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Evaluating Accuracy in
Web Resources
Questions to ask:
Are the sources of the information listed?
Is this information fact or opinion?
Can the information be verified from an independent source?
Resources to use for answering the
questions:
Some independent sources to use for verification:
So what?
If the authors of the web page give intellectual credit (a
bibliography, if you want to call it that), then they aren't worried about you checking up
on their research. Even if they are offering information without citing the origin,
if you can verify that information from a source that is independent, it is a vote for the
accuracy of the given information. Whether the page offers "fact" or
"opinion", it is still necessary to judge its appropriateness for your needs.
Opinion can be accurate, but consumers of the information need to be aware that it
is an opinion, not proven fact.
Example:
On the sample website of the National Soft Drink Association, the NSDA is disputing
the claims of research published in Lancet (the British equivalent of the Journal
of the American Medical Association) linking soft drinks to obesity in children. We recommend checking the credentials of Lancet to see who you should believe,
a medical journal or a trade association.
Return to Evaluating Web Resources
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Augustana College