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ENG 1AEX (Cole) - iSearch Project: your choice of topic: Web Resources

CRAAP Test - Evaluating Websites

The quality of the information you find on the Web varies tremendously so it is always a good idea to check the information against another source. As with all information resources, whether in print or on the Internet, you evaluate its quality based on the following criteria:

  • Currency (Is the information up to date?)
  • Relevance (Does the information meet your needs?)
  • Authority (What are the qualifications of the author?)
  • Accuracy (Is it free from mistakes and errors?)
  • Purpose (Who is the audience? Why does this content exist?)

That's just the basics.  Learn more!

Evaluating Websites and Other Research Tutorials (LPC)

Evaluating Information - Applying the CRAAP Test (CSU Chico Library)

Search Engines

Google Advanced Search - Information on educational and governmental websites tend to have more reliable information.  In the advance search, along with your search terms, enter .edu or .gov in the box labeled "Search within a site or domain:".

Google Scholar - a freely accessible web search engine that indexes the full text or metadata of scholarly literature across an array of publishing formats and disciplines.

 

Searching Websites

Many of the best sites to use are those from international (.int), education (.edu), government (.gov), and private organizations & foundations (.org). To easily search for sites from these entities, use the "site:" search to limit your results.

Sample Search Statements

  • Happiness AND laws OR policies -site:com
  • Laws OR policies OR practices AND happiness OR contentment OR satisfaction site:gov
  • Money AND happiness

Recommended Websites