FCST 1010 - Edenfield (Floyd) - Spring 2018: Evaluating Websites

The internet is a wonderful resource! There is more information available for free to you on the web today than has been available to people in the history of the world. However, not everything you find on the web can be used for academic assignments.

Knowing how to find credible information on the open web is a very important skill when you are writing an informative speech! Just because something is published on a website does not mean it's true. Anyone can publish on the web. Most information on the web is not fact-checked or verified by editors. Often, opinion is presented as fact.

In order to figure out whether a website is a good source for an academic project, you should evaluate it. One way to do this to use the C.A.R.S. checklist.

Credibility: Evaluate whether the source is written by someone knowledgable about the subject and cares about its quality 

• Is there a publishing or sponsoring organization? Is the organization an authority on the subject?
• Is the author listed?  Is the author an authority on the subject? How do you know?
• Are there spelling errors, grammar errors, dead links, or other problems that indicate a lack of quality control? 

Accuracy: Evaluate whether the source contains information that is current, complete, and correct

• Does the information on the site agree with other sources?
• Does the site contradict itself?
• What is the date of publication or copyright?
• How recently has the site been updated? 

Reasonableness: Evaluate whether the source is factual and unbiased

• Does the author, host, publisher, or sponsor have a bias?
• Does the author clearly indicate their position if they are giving an opinion instead of presenting it as fact?
• What is the motivation or purpose for creating the site? (To sell a product? To advance a viewpoint or belief? To educate?) 

Support: Evaluated whether the information presented is supported by verifiable sources

• Are the sources listed? Can they be checked?
• Is there a way to contact the author or organization?

Sources:

Harris, Robert. "Evaluating Internet Research Sources."VirtualSalt. 21 January

     2015, http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm

Spinks, Andy.  “Research Help.”  AndySpinks.com. 2015, http://andyspinks.com/research-help/

General Websites for Credible Information​

ProCon.org

ProCon is a non-profit website that presents free, unbiased, and sourced information (with citations!) on many controversial issues along with videos and links to other resources. Any information that presents a point-of-view or opinion rather than fact is clearly labeled for the position (pro or con) that it presents.

Publicagenda.org

Public Agenda is a non-partisan organization that researches and presents information on a variety of controversial issues, including immigration, foreign policy, race, voting, education, energy and climate change, healthcare, and national debt/spending. Try searching the library for information in your issue.

Pew Research Center

The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan American think tank based in Washington, D.C., that provides information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends shaping the United States and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis, and other empirical social science research. It does not take positions or present opinions.

If you are going to search for a web source using Google or another search engine, be sure to use the C.A.R.S. checklist at the left to see if your website passes the test! Not every website you find in a Google search will be an appropriate source for an academic assignment such as this one.

A librarian can always help you assess whether or not a website you have found is credible enough to use for an academic informative speech! If you have any questions about a website you've found, or if you have trouble finding a credible website, you can always ask us for help.