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Evaluating Internet Resources
Anybody can publish any type of information on the Web! Always think carefully about using web-based information - for example in an essay or dissertation - unless you believe it is from a quality source of information. Most of the information which is provided in bibliographic databases e.g. the MLA Bibliography, is reliable, as it has been though the 'peer-review' system. This means that the article has been reviewed by experts in the subject field before publication in a journal. Below is a link to a web-site, Internet for Modern Languages, which is a free, "teach yourself" tutorial that lets you practise your Internet Information Skills and shows you how to assess the usefulness of sources.
Most importantly, it will show you that you should consider the following points:
- Accuracy - is the information correct? Can it be verified from other sources?
- Authority- who is writing it? Is the producing institution reputable?
- Objectivity - what point of view is it promoting? Is it biased in some way?
- Currency - is there a date of publication/updating? Are links updated regularly?
- Coverage - does it cover what you need to know?
- Contact - is there an email or other address for further information?
Useful webskills websites
- Internet for Modern Languages
- Safari Skills Tutorial (Open University) - use Guest access, see section 5- Evaluating information
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (or why it's a good idea to Evaluate Web sources) - New Mexico State University Library
- The ICYouSee Guide to Critical Thinking About What You See on the Web (Ithaca College Library)
- Five Criteria for Evaluating Web pages (Cornell University Library)
- Thinking Critically about World Wide Web resources (UCLA College Library)
Internet sites for German
- Intute: Arts & Humanities: German Studies - An excellent starting point for internet resources relevant to German Studies. The site includes a searchable database of resources which have been selected, evaluated and described by subject specialists and is designed for the academic community.
- BUBL Information Service: BUBL Link - Selected Internet resources including sections on German language and German literature.
- Warwick German Studies Web - Maintained by the Department of German Studies, University of Warwick. Provides a wide variety of relevant links.
- German Studies Web - Maintained by the West European Studies Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries.
- The World-Wide Web Virtual Library: German Subject Catalogue - Includes a wide range of German Internet resources, grouped by subject. From the Universität Karlsruhe.