Useful Web Sites for Helping
Students Find Credible Sources of Information
Each of these sites offers a
different approach to helping students understand how to
distinguish credible from less than credible sources of
information. Sites are listed in order of recommendation.
Some focus on general research, while others focus on web
sites/internet sources. Any of these sites would be useful
for DHC students to peruse. A link to the UC Davis Library
is included at the bottom of the page.
Cornell
University Library
Critically
Analyzing Information Sources This site includes a section
on "Initial Appraisal" (referring to author, date
of publication, edition, publisher, journal title) and a
second secton on "Content Analysis" (referring
to intended audience, objective reasoning, primary/secondary
sources, writing style, etc.). This is a general site; information
is best applied to print resources.
Distinguishing
Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals This site
explicitly defines the term "scholarly publication."
It also categorizes publications into four types: Scholarly,
Substantive News, Popular, and Sensational. Examples are
provided for each category.
Johns Hopkins University –
The Sheridan Libraries
Evaluating
Information Found on the Internet This is a general
site about internet resources. It covers similar information
to the Ohio State Tutorial in a less interactive format.
This site addresses "Verifiability" - how to determine
whether a web site is providing credible information. It
also calls to students' attention how internet search engines
prioritize and select the links displayed (the money trail).
Multiple internal links with additional detailed information
are included.
Ohio State University Library
Evaluating
Web Sites Online Tutorial for Students The tutorial
is divided into seven sections, including purpose, author,
and content. In each section, students can practice identifying
the preferred web sites for research by actually visiting
web sites and answering questions about them. This is a
great assignment to give your students. Follow up with a
class discussion. This tutorial specifically focuses on
internet resources.
New Mexico State University
Library
The
Good, The Bad and The Ugly: or, Why It’s a Good Idea
to Evaluate Web Sources This site is a bulleted list
of qualifiers for each of five components - authority, accuracy,
objectivity, currency, and coverage. Each component offers
questions to ask and a web site example for every question.
UC Berkeley Library
Critical
Evaluation of Resources Berkeley's site offers a general
overview of critically evaluting books, articles, and web
sites.
Evaluating
Web Pages: Techniques to Apply and Questions to Ask
This site specifically addresses web sites, including how
to scan a web page visually for critical information. "Techniques
to Apply " and "Questions to Ask" can be
useful and easily recalled tools for students to utilize.
UC Davis
Library
Useful Links
for Seminar Faculty
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