How Do You Know It’s the Real Thing? Evaluating Websites

How Do You Know It’s the Real Thing?

Evaluating Websites

Reality Check

Know Your Personal Biases

Do I usually base my opinions on. . .

Do I tend to look at things as either “right/wrong” or “good/bad”?

When I receive information, I usually. . .

_____assume the author has the qualifications.

_____verify the author’s claims/facts in another source.

_____accept that the information is probably true.

What Is a Reliable Website?

An authoritative, accurate source whose claims can be verified by reliable documents.

• author’s credibility

• source’s reputation

An Authoritative source depends on:

How do I evaluate the author’s credibility?

Ask questions!

Why do I have free access to this site?

Why do the creators want me to see this site?

Is the site attempting to sell. . . .

a product?

promote an idea?

advocate a political agenda?

Who’s Behind the Website?

Who pays for the site?

Who maintains the site?

Who is the content provider?

Check to see if site provides an identifying link:

“About Us”

“Who We Are”

“Mission Statement”

Example: http://www.aclu.org

Author’s Credibility

Check credentials of author:

Listed in library databases?

Academic Search Elite

Discussed on the Internet?

Google the author’s name

Identify the Author/Sponsor

Personal Home Pages

http://www.u.arizona.edu/~bittnera/

Truncate the URL to the domain name:

www.csub.edu/BAS/fiscal/studaccount/cashiering.shtml

The Reputation of Sources

Does the source provide editorial oversight?

Ensures quality control.

Does the source provider employ fact checkers?

Fact checkers check quotes, dates, names, statistics, citations, and other represented facts.

Fact checkers check the legitimacy, authenticity, and validity of the information at hand.

Scholarly fact checkers are called “peer-reviewers.”

Media Watchdogs

www.factcheck.org/

Examples of inaccurate content.

In 2005, according to Ebreastaug.com, Americans spent $12 billion on cosmetic surgery.

Supported Statements

Sarwer, D. “Physical Appearance & Cosmetic Medical Treatments: Socio-Cultural Influences.”Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology

2 (2006): 29-39. (33)

Supported Statements

“In 2005, Americans spent approximately $8 billion on surgeons’ fees for cosmetic medical treatments (ASAPS, 2006).”

Supported Statements

References

American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Cosmetic Surgery National Data Bank—2005

Statistics. New York, NY: ASAPS, 2006.

Top Domains

•Personal (.com, .edu, .net)

•Commercial (.com, .org)

•Advocacy (.org, .com)

•Non-profits (.org, .edu)

•Scholarly/educational (.edu, org)

•Popular press (.com, .org)

•Proprietary (.com, .edu, .org, .net)

•Governmental (.gov, .mil)

Summary

• Why was this site launched?

• Who is behind this site?

• Is the content cited by reliable evidence?

Don’t accept claims at face value.

Test them by asking questions.

Who is speaking?

Where are they getting their information?

How can I verify what they’re saying?

Summary

• is qualified to address the issue.

• supports claims with evidence.

• confirms the accuracy of a statistic or fact.

Trusting a website is based on whether the author: