Sample Website Evaluation
1. Relevance: Scan the page to check to see if the information is relevant to your topic. Does it answer one or more of your research questions? Is there a little bit of relevant information or a lot?
Analysis: Since my topic and research questions are about teenagers and their Internet use, this news story seems to be directly related to my topic. It is very relevant, though it doesn't offer a ton of information about my topic.
2. Scope: While skimming the page, look for clues about its intended audience. Is the page written for kids, teenagers, adults, the general public, scientists?
Analysis: Based on the look of the page and language used, I would say it is definitely written for an adult audience. It appears to be a site for a company that broadcasts radio news shows. I am able to understand most of the words in the story and it is in plain English. The scope of the site is in my range.
3. Date: Look at the top and bottom of the page to see if there is a date indicating when the page was created or updated. Is the date acceptable for your topic?
Analysis: My topic is related to technology, specifically about the Internet and its use by teenagers. Technology seems like a topic that would change a lot, but this story was reported earlier this year. The date is totally acceptable.
4. Sources: As you start to read the page in more depth, double check if the author is adding citations to their facts. This can be done with footnotes, a works cited list somewhere on the site, mentions of the source within the text (According Dr. So and So...) or links to original source page.
Analysis: Since this is a news report, the author is not likely to have footnotes or a works cited list, but she does link to an unfamiliar concept. This link provides more context and information about the topic, but it also shows you where the reporter got her information. Since it is a news report, the reporter quotes that author of the book, an expert on the topic. You could count this as citing her source as well.
5. Credibility: If the other factors you have looked at check out, then make sure to evaluate the credibility of the author writing the page and/or the organization sponsoring the page. Look for an About the page link or a link to an author's biography.Does the author have the education, training or experience to write with authority about the topic? Does the organization's mission or purpose match the type of information they are providing? Doe a quick web search to see about the reputation of the author or organization, especially if you can't find any information on the site.
Analysis: There are links to an author biography and an about page on this site. When I click on the author biography, I find out that the reporter has extensive experience. When I click on the about link at the bottom of the page, I find out an extensive amount of information about the organization. They are a well known and respected news organization. If I were to do a search for either NPR or the reporter's name, I would find a ton of of sites that link to their work. The author and organization seem to very credible.
6. Accuracy: Based on your research so far, does this information on this page seem to contradict anything you read so far? Are there grammar or spelling mistakes? Is there anything that seems to be an outrageous or blatantly inaccurate claim?
Analysis: As I read the story, I don't find any errors and the facts stated seem to be believable and rational. After comparing this information with other sources I have read so far, nothing seems to stand out as a problem. I believe this story to be very accurate.
7. Reliability: Is there a strong or biased point of view? Is the site trying to sell you something (ignore the ads on the page when considering this), persuade you or just providing information about a topic? Does the author seem to be only providing one side of a topic and leaving out information that would contradict their point of view?
Analysis: This story seems to be just reporting on a particular book and what its author thinks. It doesn't seem to be trying to persuade me to agree with her opinion or to buy a product. Although the author is pretty unbiased in her presentation of the information, the page doesn't include information about any other scholars that might disagree with the book author's point of view. If I need to that information, I will need to look elsewhere. Overall though, the information is pretty reliable.
Analysis: Since my topic and research questions are about teenagers and their Internet use, this news story seems to be directly related to my topic. It is very relevant, though it doesn't offer a ton of information about my topic.
2. Scope: While skimming the page, look for clues about its intended audience. Is the page written for kids, teenagers, adults, the general public, scientists?
Analysis: Based on the look of the page and language used, I would say it is definitely written for an adult audience. It appears to be a site for a company that broadcasts radio news shows. I am able to understand most of the words in the story and it is in plain English. The scope of the site is in my range.
3. Date: Look at the top and bottom of the page to see if there is a date indicating when the page was created or updated. Is the date acceptable for your topic?
Analysis: My topic is related to technology, specifically about the Internet and its use by teenagers. Technology seems like a topic that would change a lot, but this story was reported earlier this year. The date is totally acceptable.
4. Sources: As you start to read the page in more depth, double check if the author is adding citations to their facts. This can be done with footnotes, a works cited list somewhere on the site, mentions of the source within the text (According Dr. So and So...) or links to original source page.
Analysis: Since this is a news report, the author is not likely to have footnotes or a works cited list, but she does link to an unfamiliar concept. This link provides more context and information about the topic, but it also shows you where the reporter got her information. Since it is a news report, the reporter quotes that author of the book, an expert on the topic. You could count this as citing her source as well.
5. Credibility: If the other factors you have looked at check out, then make sure to evaluate the credibility of the author writing the page and/or the organization sponsoring the page. Look for an About the page link or a link to an author's biography.Does the author have the education, training or experience to write with authority about the topic? Does the organization's mission or purpose match the type of information they are providing? Doe a quick web search to see about the reputation of the author or organization, especially if you can't find any information on the site.
Analysis: There are links to an author biography and an about page on this site. When I click on the author biography, I find out that the reporter has extensive experience. When I click on the about link at the bottom of the page, I find out an extensive amount of information about the organization. They are a well known and respected news organization. If I were to do a search for either NPR or the reporter's name, I would find a ton of of sites that link to their work. The author and organization seem to very credible.
6. Accuracy: Based on your research so far, does this information on this page seem to contradict anything you read so far? Are there grammar or spelling mistakes? Is there anything that seems to be an outrageous or blatantly inaccurate claim?
Analysis: As I read the story, I don't find any errors and the facts stated seem to be believable and rational. After comparing this information with other sources I have read so far, nothing seems to stand out as a problem. I believe this story to be very accurate.
7. Reliability: Is there a strong or biased point of view? Is the site trying to sell you something (ignore the ads on the page when considering this), persuade you or just providing information about a topic? Does the author seem to be only providing one side of a topic and leaving out information that would contradict their point of view?
Analysis: This story seems to be just reporting on a particular book and what its author thinks. It doesn't seem to be trying to persuade me to agree with her opinion or to buy a product. Although the author is pretty unbiased in her presentation of the information, the page doesn't include information about any other scholars that might disagree with the book author's point of view. If I need to that information, I will need to look elsewhere. Overall though, the information is pretty reliable.
Evaluation Summary
I would have to give this story a pretty high grade, but it isn't perfect. The information is very relevant, but there is not a lot here. On the other hand, I could probably find the book and get a lot more useful information. The author and the site sponsoring organization seem to have a strong reputation and credentials. Both are very credible. The scope of the site is appropriate for me and my project. The information is accurate and very reliable, although I would like to have seen different points of view represented. The story's date is relatively recent and the reporter links to or quotes the author/ expert as sources.
Site Grade: A / A-
Site Grade: A / A-