Evaluating a Website for Credibility Guidelines

a) identify and evaluate a website for credibility

b) provide empirical evidence to support the website as a credible source for inclusion in a scholarly assignment, and

c) present ideas in a clear, succinct, and scholarly manner

REQUIREMENTS:
1. Selects a health-related website with the domain indicated as .org or .gov.
2. Introduction section includes 6 elements:
a. clearly names the website
b. describes the purpose of the website
c. The search engine used to locate the website is named. You may use EBSCO host, Pubmed, Proquest, OVID, Brittanica online, CREDO reference or Faulkner
d. The domain of the website is identified.
e. The rationale for the selection of the website is discussed.
f. The Web Address, also known as the URL or uniform resource locator, is provided. This typically begins with “http://…”
3. Provides a thorough analysis of the website, using the following five criteria: authority, information, objectivity, ease of navigation, and privacy and security policies.
Authority
When evaluating a website for authority, determine if the author is qualified as an expert in the subject matter. The authority of the author may be associated with the source. For example, when an article is published in a scholarly research journal, you can be reasonably assured that it has undergone extensive review by subject matter experts; this is known as peer review. The information found on the Internet could range from peer-reviewed from a credible source to merely someone’s opinion; therefore, it is important to determine if the site lists the credentials of the author of the information. If so, then ask yourself if the author is an expert in the field who is qualified to provide the information. Does the website provide contact information for the author (Anderson & Klemm, 2008)?

Information
In addition to evaluating a website for authority, a search should be done for accuracy, currency, readability, and comprehensiveness of the information. As stated previously, anyone can publish information on the Internet. Is the information updated frequently? Is the information accurate and appropriate for the intended audience? Be cautious about using sources written for the general public; these sources will be inappropriate for a scholarly paper. Does the author provide a comprehensive review of the topic or is the information biased (Hebda & Czar,2014; Anderson & Klemm, 2008; Thede & Sewell, 2010)?

Objectivity
One purpose of reviewing the domain of the website is to assist in determining if the information is objective and/or biased. One way to determine bias or objectivity is to determine who sponsors the website; will the source of funding have an impact on the information provided? Is it a reliable source, such as a governmental agency, or is it a commercial site (indicated by “.com” in the URL) that is providing information with the intention of selling the reader a product (Anderson & Klemm, 2008)?

Ease of Navigation
Navigation of a website—also known as user friendliness—refers to evaluating the functionality of the site. Can the information be accessed directly or must a scavenger hunt be done to locate the information? Do the website and graphics load quickly? Are the links functioning? Does the website take into account those who may not have access to a high-speed connection (Anderson & Klemm, 2008; Thede & Sewell, 2010)?

Privacy and Security
It is not uncommon for a website to ask one to create an account before granting access to information. Be sure to review the security and privacy policies before providing personal information. The privacy policy should disclose three things.
How will the information be used?
Will the information be shared with a third party?
Will your name be placed on a listserv?
Once this is determined, provide information ONLY when you feel comfortable sharing personal contact information with that site (Hebda & Czar, 2009; Anderson & Klemm, 2008; Thede & Sewell, 2010).
4. Determines if the website is credible, provides a rationale for decision, and supports the decision with empirical evidence. The empirical evidence is to be a minimum of two (2) scholarly articles published within the last 5 years.
A source is scholarly when it comes from a professional, peer-reviewed publication (e.g., a journal or a government report such as
from the FDA or CDC); contains references for sources cited, so you can find the original source of information; is written by a professional or scholar in the field and indicates credentials of the author(s); and is no more than 5 years old; however, consult with your instructor regarding the appropriate age of
articles. Most nursing, medical, science and social science journals meet these criteria. If an article seems like it is too
simplistic or is a brief summary, look for other references. Don’t stop the hunt for your information. Newspaper articles and lay person literature (Readers Digest, Healthy Life Magazine, Food and Fitness) can
be sources for background about your topic for a project, but are not considered scholarly.
What else is not a scholarly source?
Course textbooks (course textbooks are not peer reviewed and are distillations, interpretations, and analyses of other work) Lessons from online courses or undocumented handouts Information from Wikipedia or any wiki Articles in healthcare and nursing-oriented trade magazines, such as Nursing Made Incredibly Easy and RN Magazine
5. Discusses why it is important for a professional nurse to evaluate information found on the internet. Provides three (3) distinct examples of how a professional nurse could use the information provided by the selected website.
6. Summarizes the content of the paper in concluding statements.
7. The body of the scholarly paper is to be no more than 2.5-3 pages in length, excluding title and reference pages. It must follow APA format (6th edition).

PREPARING THE PAPER
After selecting a website with the domain of .org or .gov, evaluate the website in the body of a scholarly paper. Include a minimum of two (2) scholarly references published within the past 5 years that support how you determined the website is credible.
Once the paper is completed, submit the paper to turnitin that is integrated in the course dropbox.
An explanation of the assignment criteria is provided in the following table:

Introduction includes the following:
• clearly names the website
• describes the purpose of the website
• The search engine used to locate the website is named. The domain of the website is identified.
• The rationale for the selection of the website is discussed.
• The Web Address, also known as the URL or uniform resource locator, is provided. This typically begins with “http://…”

Provides a thorough analysis of the website, addressing all five criteria: authority, information, objectivity, ease of navigation, and privacy and security policies. All categories are clearly analyzed and fully articulated.

Discusses empirical evidence to support the evaluation provided.

Discusses how the information provided by the selected website is applicable to nursing practice. Identifies three ways the professional nurse could use the information provided by the website in the practice setting.

Concluding statements summarizing content are present

Provides an introduction to the website, including all 6 required elements
Evaluates the website using all five criteria
Discusses empirical evidence to support evaluation
Discusses ways the website is applicable to nursing practice
Summarizes content in concluding statements

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