Information Literacy Learning Guides

Key Concepts & Practice

"It has to be correct - I found it on the Internet"     "It has to be wrong - I found it on the Internet"     The truth lies somewhere between. When people speak of information on the Web or Internet, they usually don't mean books or periodical articles, but both periodical articles and books are accessible through the Internet via the Web. Yet anyone can 'publish' on the Web - there are no guidelines or editors on the Web.

When evaluating both print and electronic resources, use as many of these four measures as you need as a guide:

1. Accuracy / Coverage

Is the source of the information provided? What is the focus of the page? What is the depth of coverage? remember: Anyone can 'publish' on the Web

Good example: Healthy Pregnancy

Questionable example: Male Pregnancy

2. Authority

Can you identify the author? (look at the top or bottom of the page)   Is contact information provided (name, email, phone #)? Is the author affiliated with an organization? hint: look at the top or bottom of the page

Good example:  OncoLink

Questionable example:   "The Onion"

3. Objectivity

Does the information show any biases? Is there a sponsor? What is the purpose of the information? (inform? persuade? advertise?) Who is the intended audience - advocacy, business, news, information or personal page?

Good example: American Cancer Society

Questionable example: Beef Nutrition.org

4. Currency

Is the information current, or does it reflect the time period about which you are concerned? Are the dates included - "first posted", "last updated" ?

Good example:  CNN

Questionable example:   Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Click here to Practice what you have learned about evaluating Web resources..