AH - Medical Assisting - Curley: Websites

Think any source will do for your research project? You need good, credible sources. The video below explains why. To access this video from off campus, log in with your library-generated username and password, both of which are your last name and last four digits of your student ID number (ramone1234, for example). 

Click here to be taken to our interactive guide for evaluating Wikipedia entries. 

When looking at a web site, ask yourself the following:

Who?

• Is the author or organization identifiable?

• Is there information on the author's or organization's background? (Check for an "About Us" tab on a site's homepage, or check the bottom of the page to see a site's host.)

• Is there contact information (an email address, phone number, etc.) for the author?

What?

• Does the site cover a specific time period or aspect of a topic, or does it cover the topic in depth?

• Based on your knowledge of the topic, what information is included or omitted?

• Is it done or "under construction"?

Where?

• To what domain (.edu, .gov, .org, .mil, .com) does it belong?

• Is it linked to other reputable sites?

When?

• When was it mounted?

• When was it last updated? How often is it updated? (Many websites list when they were last updated at the bottom of the page)

Why?

• What is the site's purpose?

• Based on your knowledge, is the information on the site factual, opinion, or propaganda?

• Are there a lot of ads? Is the site trying to sell something?

How?

• Is the site well organized?

• Is the site professional looking and well designed?

• Are the images used to enhance, rather than impress?