Download Verifying the Validity of Websites

Verifying the
Validity of Websites
By: KSK Partnership
Rationale
 Anyone can publish information to the
Web. Because of this, students need to
ask themselves several questions before
deciding to use the information presented
on a given website within their
schoolwork.
Six Website Evaluation
Criteria
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*You should be copying this
down!
Accuracy
Authority
Bias
Content
Resources
Timeliness
Accuracy
 Is the information reliable and error free?
 Can it be verified by all reliable
resources?
Authority
 Who is the author or sponsor of the
website?
 Is the author/sponsor reputable in his/her
field?
 Is the author/sponsor’s contact
information presented on the website?
Bias
 Is the content free of bias?
 Is the website designed to sway opinion?
 Does the website present
accurate descriptions of
alternate viewpoints?
 Are advertisements on the
web pages?
Content
 Can the content be found at several other
reliable resources?
 Is the content consistent with what is
already known on the topic.
 If the information presented is groundbreaking, is there any proof to the
accusations?
Resources
 Does the author/sponsor state where the
information was obtained?
 Is a bibliography or list of resources
included on the web site?
 Are the resources verifiable
and reputable?
Timeliness
 Is the information current enough for the
topic?
 Are revision dates posted on the web
site? If so, when was the last revision?
 How current are the links? Have any
expired or moved?
Final Words
 If you are in doubt, seek the opinion of a
trained professional, or search for a new
web site.
Typically Reliable
Resources
Gold:
 .gov
 .edu
Silver:
 .org
 Avoid:
 .com
 Wiki
Questions?