Thinking Critically about Web Information—Applying the CITE-IT Test* When you search the Web, you’re going to find a lot of information…but is it credible and reliable? Use this guide to help you determine this for yourself. Give your Web page a score based on this point system. Is your Web source credible and reliable, should you CITE IT? Score: ____________ Should I CITE IT? Connection Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? Importance Is this the type of information you need for your topic? (statistics, graphs, primary sources, secondary sources) Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)? Truthfulness Can the information be verified by other sources? Are there any sources cited for the information? Are images/photos labeled and credited? Expertise Can you locate the author or sponsor to find out more? What else have they published on the topic? Do they have the credentials to establish them as experts? What do others say about the authority of this author? Is it the main organization that provides information about a topic? 0 The site mentions my topic briefly. There is not enough information. The site mentions my topic but the information provided is not what I need. Information is provided with no indication as to where it comes from. There is either no author, or the author is possibly an ordinary person publishing without expertise (i.e. credentials are given, but a simple search of the author fails to establish the expertise of the author). The organization that sponsors the site is unknown. (Tell-tale signs include text errors or conflicting information) 1 The site provides some information, but it is not enough. I can use it to define terms, but not much else. The site provides the type of information I need, but it is too elementary or too advanced for my needs. 2 The site provides most of what I need, but I still need more. 3 The site is exactly about the topic I am researching and provides almost all the information I need. The site provides the The site provides the most of the type of right type of information information I need, at the I need, at the appropriate appropriate level. level. There is a vague reference to the information source. (A recent study…) The reader must make assumptions as to the source of the information. Author is named, but with no credentials, or the organization is of questionable authority There is a general statement about the source of the information, but not enough to locate it. (Berkeley researchers determined…) There is a good list of sources that can be located (i.e. working links). Images/photos care labeled and sources given. Author is named, but the degree of expertise is not high. OR The organization is well known, but the degree of expertise of the author is unknown The author’s credentials are given and clearly indicate that the person is an expert. OR The organization is wellknown and highly credible on the topic (for example a student posting on a university website) Should I CITE IT? Intention Is the information fact or opinion? Is it stating a point of view, promoting an idea, service or product? If you need opinions, then consider the author’s authority, their use of logic and provision of evidence for their opinions. Timeliness How up to date is the information being presented? How important is it for your topic to have recent information? Science, technology, and health information normally need to be as recent as possible. Score meanings: 0 The intention of the page is to present a biased point of view, sell or promote an idea, service or product. It is not a factual or balanced point of view. The opinion is either not backed up with facts or the facts are distorted. 1 The intention of the page is to sell or promote something, but it also provides some good factual information. Or expressed opinion is somewhat logical and presents some evidence. There is no indication of when the site was created or updated. The site was created is over 5 years ago with no date given for updating. 0-6 Very questionable source. Do not use. 7-9 OK to use as a source for definitions and basic info, but do not cite it 2 The intention of the page is to educate or to offer mostly factual information. Or The expressed opinion is logical, presenting enough evidence for the opinion. 3 The intention of the page is to provide information of scholarly, academic or at least high quality. 10-13 Good source to use and cite. 14-18 Excellent source to use. Go ahead and CITE IT. Evidence for opinion is factual, presented as numbers in charts, graphs, tables, or statistics or adequate evidence for the opinion. The site was created, The site was created, revised or updated within revised or updated within the last 5 years. If they the last 2 years. If they are citing sources, they are citing sources, they are also recent. are also recent. * Modified version of the web page rubric developed by the Ron E. Lewis Library (http://library.lsco.edu/help/web-page-rubric.pdf - based on the CRAAP Test created by Meriam Library at California State University-Chico.