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GEOG10 (Schmidt): Finding & Evaluating Websites

Internet Resources

For information on California counties, you may need to use Internet resources for background information and statistics. Start with the recommended websites listed in the next box. They are from reliable sources.

When doing web searches, use the search techniques highlighted in Research Strategies (click the tab above) to search effectively and to  filter your search results to more reliable domains, such as government websites.

Make sure you select reliable websites and evaluate the sources critically by using the CRAAP Test listed below.

Recommended Websites

Is this a good website to use? Apply the CRAAP Test:

Currency
  • How old is the source? Is there a published date on the website?
  • Is it important for your topic that your sources be current?
  • Are there newer developments not addressed in this source?
Relevance
  • Does the source relate to your topic or answer your question?
  • Is the information at an appropriate level?
  • Is it too basic?  Too advanced?
Authority
  • Who is the author? Do they make it clear? Do they try to hide it?
  • What are the author's credentials or occupation?
  • If no author is listed, where does the information come from?
Accuracy
  • Do you notice errors?
  • Are there typos or grammatical mistakes?
  • Does this source say things that aren't verified in other sources?
Purpose
  • Is the purpose of the source to inform and make research available?
  • Is it to persuade you to support a certain cause or just entertain?
  • Who is the intended audience? The general public? Scholars? Students?

Evaluating Websites Video

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