How to do research. How to effectively find things on the Web
Evaluating what you have found
The web contains a large amount of information and you should always evaluate anything that you find. Here is a list to help you evaluate things found on the web.
Authorship/Publisher
- Is this person an authority on the subject?
- Are they credible?
- Who publishes the Web page? Check the URL, it will tell you whether the organisation is an educational institution (.edu or .ac for the UK), a government body (.gov) or commercial entity (.com).
Audience and Scope
- Who is the intended audience?
- What time period is covered?
- What geographical area is covered and does it have a bias?
Currency
- When was the page created and last updated?
- How up to date is the information especially the links?
Accuracy
- Are the facts that are known to you reliable?
- Is the coverage objective? If not, is the bias clearly stated?
- Has the information been peer-reviewed or refereed?
- Is the material referenced?
If the web page you are going to use meets your criteria then you should use the information.
