Registration Notice
Registration is open until September 17 at 3:00 p.m. See the recent announcement for more information.
Chattahoochee Tech will convert from a quarter to semester system beginning with the Fall 2011 semester, a move that furthers the goal of seamless education for Georgia students. For more information visit CTC's Q2S page.
Evaluating Websites
Authority
- Who wrote or produced the website?
- What kind of education or experience do they have?
- Is the website one of a well known individual, reputable institution, organization or company?
- Example: Dr. Seuss is well known & reputable but not in the field of medicine.
Objectivity
- Does the author state the goals for this website?
- Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched?
- Does the website appear geared toward one side of an issue or in favor of a particular person, product, or idea?
- Are other products, people, or ideas written about in a negative or positive way?
- Example: An article on the health benefits of fast food written by a fast food company is biased, not objective.
Quality
- Is the information well organized?
- Has the author used good grammar?
- Are there spelling or typographical errors?
- Are the graphics (images, tables, charts, diagrams) appropriate and clearly presented?
- Is the information complete and accurate?
- While it is not the only thing to look for, a well designed website shows someone put some effort into making the site easy to use.
Coverage
- Does the website update other sources?
- Does it substantiate other materials you have read, or add new information?
- Have you found enough information to support your arguments?
- Example: An airport security website that does not include an updated list of prohibited carry-ons has incomplete coverage.
Currency
- When was the website written, published, or last updated?
- Is your topic one that requires current information?
- Example:A website produced in 2003 and not updated is not current.
Relevance
- Is the website appropriate for your research topic?
- Does the information address your research question or meet the requirements of your assignment?
- Example:If you are writing about lethal injection as a form of execution you don't want information on the electric chair.
Sample Websites: Authentic or Bogus?
- California Velcro - http://home.inreach.com/kumbach/velcro.html
- Tree Octopus - http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus
- Male Pregnancy - http://www.malepregnancy.com
- dihydrogen monoxide - http://www.dhmo.org
Citing Websites
Need more help on searching the Internet?
- Internet Detective - use this online tutorial to "discern the good, the bad, and the ugly for your online research.
- Finding Information on the Internet is an internet tutorial created by the University of California at Berkeley.
- Bare Bones is an excellent search engine tutorial produced by the University of South Carolina at Beaufort.
If you're searching for something, don't forget GALILEO.
