Evaluating internet sources
- 2. FACT OR OPINION BIAS VALIDITY OF INFORMATION ACCURACY HOW CURRENT THE MATERIAL IS ? READABILITY OF INFORMATION or SUITABLE FOR THE AUDIENCE.
- 3. FACT OR OPINION • Facts are often written as a simple statement, for example ‘Fiji lies in the Pacific Ocean’. • Opinions are often supported by evidence. • Facts are easily recognized because phrases like ‘possibly’, ‘maybe’, ‘it is probable’ etc. are used. • Opinions are sometimes easily recognized because words like ‘believe’, ‘opinion’, ‘think’’, ‘could’, ‘might’ and ‘would’ are used.
- 4. BIAS • Bias is a lack of objectivity or fairness in the treatment of topics. • On websites the bias can sometimes be identified when information keeps directing you to purchase a product or products.
- 5. VALIDITY OF INFORMATION • For information to be valid, it must be both accurate and reliable. • For reliability you must check the source of the data. • Check the publisher of the data • Find out how information was collected. • Check if other reliable sites have links to it. • Check if the site contains lots of advertisements. • Check how upto date the website is. (Check the dates) • Another indicator of a site’s validity is the use of endorsements from reputable organizations.
- 6. READABILITY OF INFORMATION or SUITABLE FOR THE AUDIENCE. • The information must be in a format that will be easily read by the proposed target audience.