Critical Thinking About Sources: Evaluate Websites

This video uses the following criteria - which are similar to the CRAAP test.

1. Objective Language
2. Corroboration 
3. Origin
4. Evidence & References
5. Mechanics 

Factitious is a game where you can test your ability to identify true and false stories based on the credibility of its source. Click on the picture below to play.

Still not sure?

Look it up by name via mediabiasfactcheck.com. Simply enter the website or media outlet and this site returns information on typical content, as well as a  Left to Right bias rating scale. Additionally, you can also view Questionable Sources, including fake news, hate sites, or those rated as Least Biased. 

The example above represents the rating for the website buzzfeed. Read the review.

Validating Information in Websites or Emails via

The best mythbuster out there is a website called snopes.com. Simply type your 'urban myth' into snopes and it will likely tell you whether the legend / rumor is true, false or somewhere in between.

• Example: You have received the following 'chain' letter email:
• There is a lot more to this email as you will see. It was very heavily distributed during Sept. 2009.

Here is what Snopes has to say about exploding pyrex.

The response also provides the email in its entirety, the origins of the rumor and any sources used to determine the validity of the claim.

This site is not limited to email hoaxes. It also has a lot of information that shed light on confusing political sound bites and many other topics as well.

Ask yourself the following questions about each website you're considering:

Currency: Timeliness of the information

• How recent is the information?
• Can you locate a date when the page(s) were written/created/updated?
• Are the links functional?
• In regards to your topic, is it current enough?

Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
• Is the information at an appropriate level (not too elementary or advanced)?
• How does it compare with other sources you have looked at?

Authority: The source of the information

• Can you determine who the author/creator is?
• Is there a way to contact them?
• What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience, etc.)?
• Is there evidence they're experts on the subject?
• Who is the publisher or sponsor of the site?

Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of content

• Is it arranged logically and consistently?
• Has it been either peer reviewed or cited elsewhere?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source?
• Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?
• Are there spelling, grammar or other typographical errors?

Purpose / Point of View: The reason the information exists

• Based on the writing style, who is the intended audience? 
• What's the intent of the website (to persuade, to sell you something, etc.)?
• What is the domain (.edu, .org, .com, .gov etc.)? How might that influence the purpose/point of view?
• Are there ads on the website? How do they relate to the topic being covered (e.g., an ad for ammunition next to an article about firearms legislation)?
• Is the author presenting fact or opinion?
• Who might benefit from a reader believing this website?

By scoring each category on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 = worst, 10=best possible) you can give each site a grade on a 50 point scale for how high-quality it is!

45 - 50 Excellent | 40 - 44 Good | 35 - 39 Average | 30 - 34 Borderline Acceptable | Below 30 - Unacceptable

Finding Credible Websites Using Advanced Google Search

For whatever reason, google has deliberately chosen to hide the advanced search link as well as its own help page that describes Advanced Search Tips.

• Go into Google.com and enter Google Advanced, or just go here.
• Enter your search terms. Note that you can search by exact phrase, all words or any words. You may even exclude words if you like.
  • For the purposes of this demonstration, enter the keywords: gun control
• In Search within a site or domain, limit it to an: .edu
• Scroll to the bottom and click on the plus sign next to: Date, usage rights, numeric range, and more. Narrow the date by choosing from the drop down: within the last year
• Click the Advanced Search button on the bottom right.
• Note that all of the results are from .edu's (educational institutions) and the content also has been updated within the last year.

• Google is a great teacher as well - note that it is clear how the search instructions were modified in the search box above. From here, modify the search to look for only government sites by simply changing .edu to .gov.
• Now the search box looks like this:

• Now, Google will only return government websites that contain the words gun control AND were updated within the last year.

As you modify anything in the advanced search screen, you can see how it is modified within the basic Google search box. After a while you'll become an expert on typing your advanced searches in right from the basic search box! Click search below, to give it a try!

DOMAIN NAMES 

The last three letters of a web address reveal the content of the web site.

Domain Names are registered.   To read more about domains and who registers them, check the site for the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority at: http://www.iana.org/

To check who maintains a particular web site, go to:

"The Web zine www.scambusters.com is an action alert network that digs up dirt on Net and telecommunications fraud, ranging from "services" that charge astronomical prices for domain name registration to con artists who partner with  Caribbean-based companies to rake in crooked pay-per-call  charges. "

http://register.com/ allows you to search by a web address to verify the contact and issuing organization information. Check the domain name you'd like to verify. Click on the "taken" button; click on  "to access the WHOIS information", and you will get a complete description of who is behind the page.