Why Evaluate Websites?
You need to be critical—even suspicious—when searching for information on the Internet, also called the “Free Web.” To learn why, read the facts below.
- Anyone can post anything at anytime on the Internet. The Web is populated with an abundance of unreliable and inaccurate information.
- People who publish on the Web have an agenda. Be particularly suspicious of .com sites, which are trying to sell you something.
- Only a small number of scholarly journals and books are available in full text on the Internet. Most scholarly journal articles are accessible from subscription databases; most scholarly books, both print and eBook, are located within library collections.
- Navigating the vast amount of information available on the Internet can be overwhelming. Only a small percentage of search results generally are relevant.
- Many websites require you to log on—and pay a fee—to gain access.
"Lesson 12: Reviews." Lesson 12: Reviews. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. <http://www.edison.edu/library/researchskills/Unit9/1websites.php>.
