Evaluating Internet Sources
Not all information is equally valuable. Retrieved information, whether from a print or non-print sources, must be carefully examined to determine its usefulness and quality. As the World Wide Web becomes more popular as a source of information for assignments and research papers, it is important to be able to select and critically evaluate the sites you visit.
Relevance/Appropriateness
- Is the format/medium of the information useful for your assignment?
- If you need primary sources, is this a primary source?
- Is the information comprehensive enough for your needs?
- Does the information express a particular point of view?
- Is the information directed toward a general (vs. a specialized) audience?
Currency
- Is there an indication of when the information was created/published?
- Is the information regularly updated?
- Is the information still valid for your topic?
Authority/Credibility
- Is there information on the author/producer of the source?
- Is there information on author/producer’s credentials?
- Does the information come from an “authoritative” source?
- Is there contact information (e.g. email address for author/producer)?
Coverage
- Does the information source cover the topic extensively?
- Is the information abridged (e.g. table of contents/summary only)?
- Is full-text information available only to subscribers?
Accuracy
- Is the information presented as fact (vs. opinion)?
- If the information is presented as fact, can it be assessed for accuracy (i.e. are there footnotes or references)?
- Does the information appear to be biased?
Design
- Is the page layout visually pleasing?
- Are the buttons or icons easy to understand?
- Are the hot links provided to additional information?
- Do the images enhance the information?
- Is the load/response time acceptable?
ESRM Web Resources
Science Daily Environmental News
One of the Internet's most popular sites for breaking news on scientific research.
A well-respected unbiased online source for environmental news.
Environmental Science Institute
The ESI seeks to advance the understanding of the environment and sustainability through interdisciplinary research and education.
Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences
The AESS seeks to serve the faculty, students, and staff of the 1,000+ interdisciplinary environmental programs in North America.
The largest and most comprehensive human-edited directory on the web, including content related to science and the environment.
Yahoo Natural Resource Management Directory
A directory by Yahoo for natural resource management.
Scirus Scientific Search Engine
The most comprehensive scientific research tool on the web with over 460 million scientific items indexed.
A free and open online community of resources for faculty, staff, and students to share learning materials. Source for ESRM lesson plans.
Last Update: 17 Aug 17:16