Evaluating Sources

In your research, it is likely you will discover information on the web that you will want to include in your literature review. For example, if your review is related to the current policy issues in public education in the United States, a potentially relevant information source may be a document located on the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) website titled The Condition of Education 2017. Likewise, for nursing, an article titled Discussing Vaccination with Concerned Patients: An Evidence-Based Resource for Healthcare Providers is available through the nursingcenter.com website. How do you evaluate these resources, and others like them?

Use the RADAR mnemonic to evaluate internet sources:

5.1.2.1 Relevance

How did you find the website and how is it relevant to your topic?

• Was it recommended by a reliable source?
• Was it cited in a scholarly source, such as a peer-reviewed journal?
• Was it linked from a reputable site?

5.1.2.2 Authority

Look for the About page to find information about the purpose of the website . You may make a determination of its credibility based on what you find there. Does the page exhibit a particular point of view or bias? For example, a heart association or charter school may be promoting a particular perspective – how might that impact the objectivity of the information located on their site? Is there advertising or is there a product information attached to the content?

5.1.2.3 Date

• When was the page created?
• Is it kept up to date?
• Are the links current and functional?

5.1.2.4 Appearance

• Does the information presented appear to be factual?
• Is the language formal or academic?
• How does it compare to other information you have read on the topic?
• Are references or links to cited material included?

5.1.2.5 Reason

What is the web address or URL? This can give you a clue about the purpose of the website, which may be to debate, advocate, advertise or sell, campaign, or present information. Here are some common domains and their origins:

• .org – An advocacy website for an organization
• .com – A private or commercial site
• .net – A network organization or Internet provider/no longer frequently used
• .edu – The site of a higher educational institution
• .gov – A federal government site
• .wa.us – A state government site which may include public schools and community colleges
• .uk, .ca, .jm – A country site

Mike Caulfield, the author of Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers, recommends a few simple strategies to evaluate a website (as well as social media):

• Check for previous work: Look around to see if someone else has already provided a synthesis of the research described.
• Go upstream to the source: Go "upstream" to the source of the claim. Most web content is not original. Get to the original source to understand the credibility and reliability of the information.
• Read laterally: Read laterally. Once you get to the source of a claim, read what other people say about the source (publication, author, etc.). The truth is in the network.