Internet Research: What's Credible?
From Films on Demand (captions in English)
Recommended Science-related Websites
- Understanding EvolutionCreated by the University of California Museum of Paleontology with support from the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
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:
- Accuracy (Is it free from mistakes and errors?)
- Authority (What are the qualifications of the author?)
- Objectivity (Is there any strong bias?)
- Currency (Is the information up to date?)
- Coverage (To what extent is the topic explored?)
That's just the basics. Learn more!
Evaluating Information (CSU Chico)
Sample Web Searches
Research question #1: Should animals be used for scientific or commercial testing?
search terms: "animal testing" AND ethics
Research question #2: Is medical marijuana an effective treatment?
search terms: "medical marijuana" AND treatment
GOOGLE SEARCH TIPS:
- Limit search results by domain. Examples:
- site:edu (education sites)
- site:gov (government sites)
- Limit search results by date. From the results screen, click on Tools / Any Time / Custom range.
