Evaluating Information Content, page 2

Evaluating Information Resources Found and Retrieved

Question to ask: is bias present?

What to Look For:

Evidence of bias includes misleading statements or unsupported claims made by the author, sponsorship by individuals or groups with vested interest in the topic, or one-sided arguments about controversial issues.
Steps for evaluating point of view are based on authorship or affiliation:
- Does the document reside on the Web server of an organization that has a vested interest in the issue?
- If you are looking at a corporate Web site, assume that the information on the corporation will be presented positively.
- Is advertising included at the site, and if so, has it had an impact on the content?

Another question to ask: what type of audience is the author addressing?

What to Look For:

Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general audience?
Is this source too elementary, too technical, too advanced, or just right for your needs?