Evaluating websites
It is easy to find information on the web but it can be difficult to find scholarly information.
Anyone can add information to the Web, regardless of their training, education or experience.
Why not use Wikipedia? Wikipedia is not citable as the content is not stable and authors are anonymous.
The following table will help you to evaluate Internet sites and find scholarly information.
See the Evaluating Websites Tutorial for more information.
| Internet webpage | Examples | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| Use scholarly search engines and subject directories | SCIRUS |
Purpose and intent of the site Is it written for a scholarly audience to educate, inform or persuade? Author’s qualifications and credentials – look for links to author’s home page or curriculum vitae. Currency of information – when was the site last updated? |
Internet Search tools for finding Scholarly Websites
Advanced Google
Try the Advanced Google Search, which offers numerous options for making your searches more precise and getting more useful results. Refine your search by domain e.g. .edu for education sites or .gov for government sites, use exact phrase searching and other advanced searching options provided.
SCIRUS
SCIRUS is a scholarly and comprehensive science-specific search engine designed for scientists and researchers. It searches over 250 million science-specific Web pages and provides links to journals articles and web documents covering science, technology and medicine.
Website addresses
Common domains
.edu educational institutions
.gov government departments
.org organisations
.net networks
.com commercial body, company, personal websites
Country domains
.au Australia
.uk United Kingdom
.sg Singapore
Google Scholar
(search results open in a new window)
Description
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