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Evaluating Internet Resources

Why Evaluate?

  • Volume of Information
    Just the shear volume of information can lead to evaluation issues.  So much is available on the Internet that it can be difficult to wade through everything carefully.
  • Anyone Can Publish on the Internet
    Internet publishing is available to everyone; you, me, your neighbor, seven-year-olds, lobbiests, politicians, etc.
  • No Editing/Review Boards
    Unlike more traditional publications (books, journals) the Internet has no review board.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Authority
    Evaluation can sometimes require doing research on the author to be certain he/she is an authority on the subject.
  • Accuracy
    Can you verify the validity of the information from another source, such as  a book?  Is the research methodology valid?  Are sources of information stated in the web site?
  • Objectivity
    Is the data factual or does it reflect the personal bias of the author?  Is the material presented in an objective manner or is the author trying to sell the reader?
  • Currency
    Reliable Internet sites should include the date the information was compiled.  Is the information current or out-of-date?  Has the page been revised since it was originally written?
  • Usability
    Is the site user friendly?  Is it easy to follow and can the user move from page to page logically?  Is the navigation consistent from page to page?

 

Criteria for Evaluating Web Sites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thirty-four percent of Alma students participate in intercollegiate athletics. Alma College competes at the NCAA Division III level as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the oldest existing athletic conference in the nation.

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Student Profile

Brett Seymoure

Brett Seymoure
Graduation: 2009
Major: Biology
From: Paw Paw, Michigan
Interests: Sports, Politics

Alma’s close faculty-student interaction provides numerous benefits such as the ability to do undergraduate research on a graduate level. Alma’s professors treat students more as peers welcoming student input and collaboration on faculty projects. When students are involved in research, faculty aggressively pursue publication of findings including students as co-authors.

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