Locating and Evaluating Resources

Appraising Websites

Creating a website and posting information has always been free for anyone and the information posted is usually unfiltered. It means that many misleading or controversial pieces of data can be easily posted on the internet, and no one will scrutinize it. Several ways to appraise websites and other internet sources for credibility (Berry College, 2018). One of the ways is by examining the author and determining whether or not the author is an expert in the field and if the information can be verified.

Furthermore, check the scope of the website content; whether or not the material is valuable, accurate, relevant, and significant. Confirm whether the information is original and factual and how frequently the resource is updated. Another critical point to note is the format and the presentation of the data by looking at the arrangement of the links (University of Maryland, 2019). Also, compare the website to other websites with similar information to confirm the information's accuracy and credibility.

There are several ways to spot unreliable information on the internet, including checking the citations and evidence. Sources help track down the knowledge and verify whether or not it is reliable. Lack of citation means there is a high chance of unreliable information. Another way of confirming the reliability of the information on a website is by checking the section that talks about the organization.

Through this, one can prove the website's viewpoint and purpose. Also, look out for signs of false information or fake websites. It can be done by looking at the URL of the websites for peculiar contents, such as the use of the suffix "Io" (New Jersey Library, 2019). Beware of controversial or inciteful websites to arouse negative emotions or create divisions. These are usually the signs that the information posted on the website is unreliable and untrustworthy.

References

Berry College. (2018, March 27). Evaluating web resources: What makes a credible website? https://libguides.berry.edu/evaluatingweb

New Jersey State Library. (2019, May 9). Information literacy for TESU students. https://libguides.njstatelib.org/info_literacy

University of Maryland Global Campus. (2019). Is my source credible? https://libguides.umgc.edu/credibility