PIE Sheet

The World Wide Web (WWW) has led to a vast increase in the amount of information available on the Internet. As a research tool, however, the Web lacks the quality assurance that editors provide with print publications. Therefore, it is crucial that people doing research in this medium learn how to critically evaluate the material they find.

In the appropriate section of your SMP, you are to write/type, in your own words, in essay form (complete sentences and paragraphs), evaluate the quality of each of the WEBSITES you found. (Not the content of the website). Evaluate each website separately.

Don't just indicate that the criterion was met by answering "yes" or "no," but rather give the information from the website in your evaluation. (Example: "Criterion #1: Authority: The sponsor of the website is Acme Life Systems. Its stated purpose or mission is to inform the public about various mental health issues such as counseling services and help for depression. There is an email address for the sponsor, but no mailing address. It is not clear who wrote the section about depression, but the counseling services section was written by John Smith. There is no mention of his qualifications."

A. It is clear who is sponsoring the creation and maintenance of the page.

B. There is information available describing the purpose of the sponsoring organization.

C. There is a way of verifying the legitimacy of the page’s sponsor For instance, a phone number or address is available to contact for more information.

D. It is clear who developed and wrote the material. His/Her qualifications for writing on this topic are stated.

E. The sources for factual information are given so they can be verified.

F. It is clear who has the responsibility for the accuracy of the information presented.

G. If statistical data is presented in graphs/charts, they are labeled clearly.

H. The page and the information included is provided as a public service.

I. There is advertising.

J. If there is advertising on the page, it is clearly separated from the informational content.

There are dates on the page to indicate the following:

K. When the page was written.

L. When the page was first placed on line.

M. When the page was last revised or edited?

O. There are indications that the material is updated frequently to ensure currency of the data.

P. There is an indication that the page has been completed and is not still under construction.

Q. If there is a print equivalent to the Web page (such as a book), there is a clear indication of whether it is an entire work or only a portion of it that is available on the Web.