Establishing Criteria for Internet Resources

Ah, the wonders of the Internet. Once popularly known as the Information Superhighway, the Internet houses websites, organizations, and plenty of would-be experts for every topic imaginable (and some unimaginable). However entertaining these resources might be, though, not all of them are reliable. Some are based on hearsay and some are based on opinion, but few are centered on actual fact.

So how can you tell which prospective resources are worthy of your attention? By establishing a set of solid criteria--or standards--on which to judge each contender. Think of it as "Website Boot Camp." By putting each website through its paces, only the strong will survive. In order for this to happen, you need a list of criteria that is just as strong as you want the prevailing websites to be.

For this, you are going to compile a list of 15 things to scrutinize in each website. This seems like a lot, I know. So let's take it one at a time. The easiest way to go about it is by beginning with five aspects of a good website, and elaborating on each one.

We'll start with something basic: aesthetics. When you visit a website, what does it need to present initially in order for you to continue browsing that website? Take a moment to think of one or two answers.

Now, let's say you decide that it needs to be "easy to navigate." What specific features make a website easy to navigate? Again, stop and think of one or two specific things that would fulfill this criteria. Also think of one or two things that make a website hard to use or navigate, and write this down as well. This may include things such as font size, colors that make a website difficult to view, or any number of features that you find undesirable. If you're unsure, you can ask someone who is not as familiar with the Internet. Find out what qualities make information easy for them to find, and what frustrates or discourages them to the point that they leave altogether.

Once you've developed a few specific criteria for aesthetics, you'll move on to another aspect of your ideal website. Let's say you'd like a website that cites their sources (always a good idea). Here are some questions to consider:

What kinds of sources do you consider reliable? What might you consider unreliable?

Do you want research studies, interviews, or point-of-view articles and essays?

Does the topic you are studying have a reputable organization that provides information?

Who are some of the revolutionaries in that field? Do they have a website? Is information about their studies or accomplishments accessible via Internet?

Answer these questions to the best of your ability; this may help you to narrow down the list of qualities you will look for.

Let's proceed to yet another aspect. One good one to consider is when your ideal website was last updated. Depending on your topic, there may not be a constant influx of new information. Set reasonable standards, while keep your criteria tight enough that not just anyone can meet your standards. Generally, a span of two or three months should be enough for any website, but use your own judgement. For a more popular topic that is reported on or studied frequently, newer information should be accessible sooner. In instances like this, you would want a website updated more frequently.

Continue the process of starting with one condition, and asking yourself two or three questions that will help elaborate on the specifics of what you're looking for.

During each step of establishing criteria, it's helpful to also think of "red flags": things that will automatically tip you off that a certain website is not appropriate for research. One example of this is if the website is run by an agency that charges for their services. This kind of website has an agenda; it is not simply informational. Such websites can sometimes be useful for guiding you in the right direction (like teaching you the "lingo" of a topic, which you can use in a web or database search), but you shouldn't base your paper on the content of these websites. Keep searching until you find a solid website about the same topic, but that meets the criteria in the lesson and the criteria that you set.