Evaluating Internet Research Sources

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Evaluating Internet Research Sources

• Using Harris CARS Checklist

2
Welcome to the Internet!

• There is an extremely wide array of material on
  the Internet, ranging in its accuracy,
  reliability, and value.
• No one has to approve Internet content before it
  is made public.
• Information on the Net exists in a large variety
  of kinds (facts, opinions, stories,
  interpretations, statistics) and is created for
  many purposes (to inform, to persuade, to sell,
  to present a viewpoint, and to create or change
  an attitude or belief).

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Pre-Evaluation

• Take a minute to ask yourself what you are
  looking for.
• Do you want facts, opinions, reasoned arguments,
  statistics, narratives, eyewitness reports,
  descriptions?
• Is the purpose of your research to get new ideas,
  to find either factual or reasoned support?

4
Reliable Sources

• Ask yourself, What source or what kind of source
  would be the most credible for providing
  information in this particular case?

5
Source Selection Tip

• Try to select sources that offer as much of the
  following information as possible
• Authors Name
• Authors Organizational Affiliation
• Date of Page Creation or Version
• Authors Contact Information
• Some of the Indicators of Information Quality
  (the CARS checklist)

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The CARS Checklist

• Credibility
• Accuracy
• Reasonableness
• Support

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Detail of CARS criteria
8
Evaluate

• Evaluate and re-evaluate regularly.
• New information will affect the accuracy and
  evaluation of previous information.
• Recognize the dynamic and fluid nature of
  information.
• Change is the only constant

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Now, its time to work with your partner

• After reading Harris article and viewing this
  presentation, show how much you know.
• Work with a partner and match the goals cards to
  the criteria cards from Harris CARS checklist.
  Do these make sense?