Research Skills Tutorial

Module 7: Finding Web Pages

Evaluating Internet Resources
Information and Library Service Web Guides
Using Internet Search Tools
Citing Internet Resources

Evaluating Internet Resources

Although the Web is commonly considered the most powerful information tool in history, it is one of the most difficult resources to search and evaluate effectively for many reasons. First of all, anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of computer systems can produce and publish a full-scale Web site on any subject, calling into question the authenticity of all the information found on the Web. Furthermore, unlike traditional "paper" resources where the information remains unchanged, information on the Web one day may be completely gone or significantly changed the next.

With these limitations in mind, there are many legitimate and reliable resources on the Web that can be quite useful. By following a few simple criteria and using some old fashioned "common sense," the reliable and verifiable resources can easily be distinguished from the junk.

Go to the UMUC guide on how to Evaluate Internet Resources and review the criteria carefully.

For practice, look at the two Web pages listed below and evaluate them on the criteria and then return to this page with the browser's back button. These two pages provide information on fibromyalgia, an arthritic-like condition that affects millions of people.

Example of a Valuable Site

Authority: The URL of the page (http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/
what_fibromyalgia_its_symptoms_000076_1.htm) indicates that it is part of an educational Web site (University of Maryland Medical Center Web site). At the bottom of the document, you see that the page was reviewed Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Well-Connected reports; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital and is maintained by A.D.A.M, a URAC (American Accreditation HealthCare Commission) accredited company.
Accuracy: It is clear that a physician, Dr. Harvey Simon, is responsible for the accuracy of the information presented.
Objectivity: The page is provided as a public service, for educational purposes only, and following the link "Where else can help be found for fibromyalgia?" at the bottom of the document, there are links to some organizations and groups for more information on fibromyalgia. Also, the page is free of advertising, leading one to believe that it is provided as a public service.
Currency: The date of the last review for this page is clearly stated at the bottom.
Coverage: There is no indication that the page is still under construction so it can be assumed that it is completed. No print equivalent of the page is indicated, but that alone is not enough to dismiss the page and the information provided.

Example of a Questionable Site

Authority: At the beginning of this page, it’s not clear who is sponsoring this information. There is no contact information and no clear indication of who developed and wrote the material. The information appears to be based on one person's personal experience.
Accuracy: There are no sources given for the factual information presented and it is not clear who has responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
Objectivity: This page is not presented as a public service and the advertisements for purchasing medication online call into question the objectivity.
Currency: No update information is given.
Coverage: There is no indication that the page is still under construction and no information available about a possible print version.

After critically evaluating both pages, it is clear that the first page is a more valid, verifiable source of information on the disease than the second which is little more than an advertisement disguised as a "personal story" of a fibromyalgia sufferer. This example highlights the dangers of blindly accepting anything found on the Web as a valid information resource. The broad mix of company advertising/marketing information, personal (and many times highly opinionated) Web pages, and reputable sources of facts and data found on the Web clearly indicate the importance of critically evaluating Web based resources.

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Information and Library Services Web Guides

Now that the importance of evaluating quality in Web based resources has been addressed, it is important to remember that there are many valid information resources available via the Web. The next step is determining how to find high quality, frequently updated sites in an expedient fashion. The UMUC guides to print and online resources are an excellent place to begin any Internet search for high quality Web resources.

The UMUC guides include selections of Web resources that have been critically reviewed by Library Services staff and determined to be valid sources. Although the sites that are listed have been critically evaluated, not all of the sites that these pages lead to have been. It is important to critically evaluate all pages independently no matter how the site was found. Read through the list of subject guides and return to this page.

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Using Internet Search Tools

Subject specific guides to Internet resources are not the only way to locate information on the Web. There are many different Internet search tools that index large numbers of Web sites and allow you to search their listings in a variety of ways. These tools are essential for finding information on the Web but most of them don't provide critical reviews of the sites that they include allowing a large number of unverifiable and invalid sites to be listed. Just because you found a Web site with a respected search tool really says very little about the authenticity of the site found.

Go to the UMUC Library Services Web site guide on how to Search and Use the Internet and read about the different types of Internet search tools.

Here are some additional tips/suggestions to keep in mind when searching the Web:

Use all of the tools: Avoid using one search tool exclusively and constantly experiment by looking for information on the same topic in different tools.
Read instructions/help screens: Always read the documentation that the search tools provide and check it again periodically. Many times search tools change the way that their system functions without advertising it.
Be unique: Avoid commonly used words when searching.
Synonyms: If you're having trouble finding information on a topic, try searching synonyms for some of the terms you're using.

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Citing Internet Resources

In Module #2: Copyright and Plagiarism, we discussed the importance of citing all resources used in preparing a paper or project.

For information on citing Web pages and other Internet resources, go to the following UMUC sites:

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