This document provides tips for evaluating information found on the web. It discusses that the quality of websites varies greatly as the web is uncontrolled. It suggests evaluating websites based on factors like author credentials, date of publication, potential biases, accuracy and purpose. Recommended sources include subject directories, search engines like Google which can be refined, and .gov, .edu sites which are usually reliable. The document stresses the importance of fact checking online information against books and articles verified by experts.

1. This tutorial offers
simple approaches to
Web searching and
evaluation.
Take a few minutes now
to save hours of
searching later!

2. The World Wide Web is
an interconnected
network of computers
around the world.
No group controls the
quality of Web sites.
Checking Web
information accuracy
is your job!

3.  Valuable, credible information: research,
statistics, health news, financial data from
governments and non-profit groups;
 Hobby and personal information, by
individuals;
 Commercial advertising from companies;
 Inaccurate, offensive information, rantings,
opinions presented as facts, pornography,
stolen music, etc.

4. NO! No one publishing
medium contains all
information in the
world: not books, TV,
radio, films, or the
Web!
Most information
in the world is NOT
on the Web.

5. It’s often best to use websites after
using books and articles, which are
usually fact-checked by experts.
Learn about your subject in reliably
credible sources first, so you can
evaluate websites better!

6.  Just like with network and cable TV, there are
free and paid or subscription websites. You
often get what you pay for!
 This tutorial discusses ways to search for the
best free websites.
 Most Americans can use subscription websites
(such as article databases) through public or
school libraries. SUNY Adirondack students can
go to the SUNY Adirondack Library.

7. 1) Who created the website?
2) How current is it?
3) Does it show a bias or limited
point of view?
4) Is it accurate?

8.  Who is the author or
producer?
 Are credentials or contact
information given?
 If published by an
organization, is any
background given?
 Is it the group’s official site?

9.  The last part of a Web address may tell you
who created the site:
◦ .com (for-profit company; about 50% of addresses),
◦ .gov (U.S. federal government),
◦ .edu (college or university),
◦ .org (non-profit organization),
◦ .net (network) and
◦ .mil (military).
Two-letter country (.us) or state (.ny) addresses are also
used.
 Many new endings have been added:
.biz .museum .info .pro …and many others.

10.  When was the information
produced?
 When was it last updated?
 Does the currency matter for
your subject?
 Are the links up-to-date, or
do they lead to “dead ends”?

11.  Does the site offer facts or opinions?
 Does it show political, cultural or
other biases?
 Does it present all viewpoints, or only
selected ones?
 Is the author trying to sell a product
or have other vested interests?

12.  What is the site’s purpose?
 Is it accurate? Does it correspond to research
in more reliably credible sources?
 Who is the intended audience?
 Is it clearly organized and designed well?

13.  Recommended Web sites
 Subject directory
 Search engine
Let’s go through each….

14. This technique is learned with experience.
Check textbooks, library research guides and
with your instructor for ideas on good
websites to use.
We’ll get you started with a few favorites.
They might become your favorites too!

15.  FedStats: http://www.fedstats.gov
(Federal and state statistics)
 NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/
 BBC News http://www.bbc.com/
 RefDesk: http://refdesk.com

16. Subject directories are websites
offering:
 a small, organized collection of
high-quality Web sites.
 sites chosen by people, not
software.
Use them to find a few good,
credible Web sites.

17. ◦ Internet Public Library
http://ipl.org
From the University of Michigan.
◦ Best Information on the Net
http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/
From St. Ambrose Univ. in Iowa.

18.  Search engines search millions or billions of
websites by subject, using software.
 They’re useful for very specific subject
searches, or if you want many, many
results.
 Search engines are usually
not organized by subject.

19. It uses link popularity and other criteria
to find useful sites.
It searches several billion sites.
But if you’re going to Google…

20. 1. Do a Google search.
2. On the results screen, click on the gear
symbol:
3. Choose Advanced Search.
4. Limit your search as wanted:
 “this exact wording or phrase”
 “search within a site or domain” limit: (search for
gov or edu or org endings)
 “file type: PDFs, etc.
Your results will be better, faster and more precise!

21. ● No search engine covers all the Web.
● Thousands of search engines exist.
● Compare a Google search with these:
Duck Duck Go
Bing
 For more search engines, see:
- 10 Best Search Engines
- Search Engines & Web Directories

22. At any time, ask a librarian for tips and
ideas!
Click here to return to the
SUNY Adirondack Library’s webpage.
This tutorial was written by
SUNY Adirondack instruction librarian
Joyce Miller.
It was updated in June 2014.