Learning from the Web

While some of the Web's information is unattributed and unreliable, much of it remains very helpful and as the old saying goes, I "learn something new everyday."

I recently took a look at four Web sites that (in part) discuss this very phenomenon -- distinguishing between legitimate and falsified information.

On virtualchase.com there is a list of six things to do when evaluating information, in general. Of course this is supposed to be applied to Web sites and some of the criteria include identifying the source and discovering their expertise and verifying the key claims of the information.

These tips can be helpful, although I can't see how common sense wouldn't tell a reader to take such steps if skeptical about the validity of certain information. Also, what if you are looking for the source's credentials but they are simply unavailable on the Web -- does that make them unreliable? You can see where some consistency issues might arise here.

This page from the UC-Berkeley library site highlights some techniques and questions to ask when looking closely at a Web site's content. In terms of layout this particular page is brutal, it's cluttered, has an odd color scheme and jumps all over the place, making it virtually unnavigable. That being said, some of the tips include evaluating the URL, searching for indicators of quality information and looking at the number of outside links on the page.

As is often the case in the realm of online journalism, Mindy McAdams chimes in her expertise on the topic. Her tips for verifying information are checking the domain name, being weary of the tilde, using the "Whois lookup" and making a phone call, if necessary. Her suggestions are always noted, but just as we should be skeptical of Web information, the same applies to the extent of McAdams' knowledge in what is still a relatively new field.

The fourth, the Stanford Guidelines for Web Credibility is about as straightforward as they come. I'm sure it's helpful to the students on campus looking to cite Internet sources in their essays and dissertations, but for me it's a regurgitation of what's been discussed above.

The point of it all is, don't believe everything you see on the Web. Take a closer look.