EVALUATING WEB SITES

Finding Websites | Evaluating Websites | Helpful Web Sources | Copyright and Citations

FINDING WEB SITES

What is a Search Engine?
Search engines use software (called "robots," "spiders, "or "crawlers") that find Web pages and store the links in an index that you search.

Examples: Google, AllTheWeb.com (FAST), AltaVista, MSN, Teoma (formerly DirectHit), WiseNut

What is a Web Directory?
A directory depends on humans for its listings. You submit a short description for your site, or editors write descriptions for sites they review.

Examples: Yahoo! Directory (NOTE: this is different than regular Yahoo!), Open Directory (this powers the Google Directory), LookSmart, About.com

What is a MetaSearch Engine?
Metasearch services (also called "metacrawlers" or "mega search engines") don't crawl the Web themselves, but they send searches to several search engines at once, and the results are shown on one page.

Examples: Dogpile, Excite, Fazzle, Infogrid, Ithaki, Ixquick, Mamma, MetaCrawler, qbSearch, Search.com, Ixquick, Vivisimo, ProFusion, Webcrawler

Where do search engines search?

• Parts of the FREE Web:

  • Individuals' Web pages
  • Corporate and government Web pages
  • Non-profit Web pages
  • Educational Web page
• Search engines do NOT search:
  • The entire Web
  • The same Web pages
  • The Invisible Web (PDF files, dynamic or "database driven" Web pages)
    Exceptions: Google and ProFusion can search for PDF files
  • Licensed resources (indexes and databases at 'K' College)

Web Search Tips:

• Each search engine works differently!

• Search tools only index part of the free Web!

• Beware of: Paid placement, spamming, commercial partnerships

• Use SPECIFIC terms ("United States political history" instead of "politics")

• Choose the "Advanced Search" option

• Read the Help page

• Helpful Web pages:

  • Kalamazoo College: Boolean Logic
  • Kalamazoo College: Advanced Searching
  • Search Engine Watch: Search Engine Features for Searchers
  • Search Engine Watch: Web Searching Tips

Good Web Searching Resources

• Google
  General Web search engine. Known for returning relevant results.

• Searchedu.com
  Search engine that only searches educational sites (sites with the .edu extension)

• Allacademic.com
  a search engine for academic resources

• Infomine
  A collection of scholarly resources

EVALUATING WEB SITES

When evaluating sources, pay attention to:

1. Accuracy
How reliable is the information? Are there editors and fact checkers?
2. Authority
What are the author's qualifications? Is the publisher reputable?
3. Objectivity
Is the author trying to sway opinion? Is the information free from bias?
4. Currency
Is the publication date indicated? Is the source up to date?
5. Coverage
Does the site cover the topic comprehensively, or are there information gaps?

Some Websites to Compare:

• Kennewick Man
  "Kennewick Man" is a 9,300 year old skeleton found in July 1996 near the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington.
  • Friends of America's Past
  • Kennewick Man News
    
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Martin Luther King: An Historical Examination *NOTE: This site may be offensive*
  • The King Center
    
• Flouridation
  • ADA Website on Flouridation
  • Noflouride.com
    
• Prozac
  • Prozactruth.com
  • Prozac.com
    
• Soft Drinks
  • Center for Science in the Public Interest Report: Liquid Candy
  • American Beverage Association (formerly the National Soft Drink Association)
    
• Alien Abductions
  • NOVA Online: Exploring the Alien Abduction Phenomenon
  • Alien Abduction Experience and Research
  • Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP)
    
• Beef
  • BeefNutrition.org
  • McCruelty.com
    
• Sweeteners
  • Aspartame (Nutrasweet) Toxicity Info Center
  • Nutrasweet.com
    
• Cloning
  • Genochoice
  • Genetic Savings and Clone
    • See also: "New Breed of Cat: Clones to Make Debut at Annual Show." James Barron. New York Times. (Late Edition (East Coast)). New York, N.Y.: Oct 8, 2004. pg. B.
• Dow Chemical
  • Dow Chemical Company
  • Dow Ethics

Sites and their Impostors

• World Trade Organization
  • www.wto.org
  • www.gatt.org
    • See also "The Yes Men Impersonate the WTO"

Other Dubious Sites

• Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division
• Boilerplate the Victorian Robot
  • See also: "The Strange Case of the Spoofer Captured by a Spoof" (The Arts/Cultural Desk) Edward Wyatt.
    The New York Times Nov 1, 2005 pE1(L).
  • See also: "Gotcha!," U.S. News & World Report, August 26, 2002 / September 2, 2002, SPECIAL DOUBLE ISSUE; HOAXES; COVER STORY; Vol. 133 , No. 8; Pg. 30, By Thomas Hayden.
• McWhortle Enterprises, Inc.
• DreamTech International(Clones-R-Us)
• Clyven: The First Transgenic Mouse with Human Intelligence
• Genochoice
• MalePregnancy.com
• PetsOrFood.com
• DriversLicenseSearch.com
• Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
• Bonsai Kitten
• Feline Reactions to Bearded Men
• Ova Prima Foundation
• Lake Michigan Whale Watching
• Dog Island

Mainstream Media:

• Blondes
  • BBC News: "Blondes to Die Out in 200 Years"
  • World Health Organization Statement

Independence Movements:

• Dominion of British West Florida
• Hawaii Sovereignty Movement
• Republic of Texas
• Alaskan Independence Party

Helpful Resources:

• Urban Legends Reference Pages
  Use this Website to track down bogus claims on the Web

• WHOIS services from NetSol.com, Internic.com, or Register.com
  Use this tool to find out who registered a domain name, their contact information, etc.
  

Guides for Evaluating Websites:

• Evaluating Web Resources
  by Jan Alexander and Marsha Ann Tate at the Widener University Library

• Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources
  from the UCLA College Library

• Evaluating Information Found on the Internet
  from the Johns Hopkins University Library

• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Why It's a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources
  from the New Mexico State University Library

HELPFUL WEB SOURCES

WorldCat < about >
WorldCat is an index that contains bibliographic citations for high-quality Web sites on a variety of subjects. When you search WorldCat for Web sites, remember to check the box for "Internet Resources" in the section called "Limit type to". Sites are selected according to a collection development policy that emphasizes quality, authoritativeness, and durability.

See also Finding Web Sites from the K College Library site.

COPYRIGHT

When creating Web pages, you must keep copyright in mind. In general it is permissible to link to other Websites, but it is not all right to copy the content of another Web page and post it as your own (this includes graphics).

Guidelines from Copyright and the Internet by Virginia Montecino at George Mason University:

You CANNOT:

• Copy and paste the content of another Website into your own site without giving credit to the originator of the material

• Incorporate information from other sources to create your Web pages without giving credit to the original source

• Use graphics or logos from other Websites on your own Web pages unless it is clear that you have permission to do so

You CAN:

• Link to other Websites, though some sites have specific guidelines and restrictions

• Use free graphics on your Web pages; again, there may be guidelines and restrictions

Helpful Websites for Copyright Information:

• Kalamazoo College Copyright Policy

• Copyright and the Internet by Virginia Montecino at George Mason University

• Web Law FAQ by Oppedahl & Larson LLP

• Copyright Law in Cyberspace by Georgia Harper, Office of General Counsel, University of Texas System

CITATIONS

• Plagiarism: What it Is and How to Recognize and Avoid It
  (Produced by Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University).

• How to Cite Sources

When in doubt, ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR!

< top >

< go back >