Always remember to use the following criteria when evaluating websites:
1. Authority - Who is responsible for the website? Are they credible and do they have the expertise to discuss this topic?
Domain Names
.com commercial site
.edu educational site
.gov government site
.mil military site
.org association or professional organization
.net network service provider
Publisher & Author
Who published it? Is she/he an expert on this topic?
Look for an author and his/her affiliations.
2. Relevancy - Does this web site provide information to answer my research questions?
3. Currency - What is the copyright date of the information? Is this pertinent to my topic?
Appearance & Source
How does it look?
Does it appear to be a professional or personal website?
How did you find it?
Did you choose it at random from a Google search, or was it linked to in another trustworthy resource?
4. Accuracy - Does the information appear to be accurate based on everything else I know about the topic? Can I check the facts?
Date & Location
When was it published or last updated? Is the information outdated?
Where was it published? And where did it appear?
5. Bias – VERY IMPORTANT - Are the authors or the the sponsoring institution trying to sway me to take a side? Do they have a hidden agenda?
Purpose
What is the agenda? Is the author trying to sell you a product or convince you of his or her opinion?
Why does this website exist? Is its purpose to inform, to sell a product, or to convince you of an idea?
| Characteristic | Scholarly Journals (e.g., American Sociological Review) | Popular Magazines (e.g., Time, People) | |
| Author |
|
A journalist or staff writer. Their authority often comes from their writing ability rather than expertise in the subject matter. | |
| Audience | Other scholars, researchers, and students in a particular discipline. A background in the subject is often assumed. | The general public. The content is written to be easily understood by the average reader. | |
| Purpose | To report on original research, present new theories, and contribute to a body of knowledge. The goal is to inform the academic community. | To entertain, inform, or sell products. The content often summarizes or adapts scholarly findings for a general audience. | |
| Review Process | Articles are rigorously evaluated by other experts in the same field before publication. This "peer-review" process is a key measure of quality control. | Articles are reviewed by magazine editors and fact-checkers, but not by outside experts. This process is not as stringent as peer-review. | |
| Citations and References | Always includes a detailed bibliography, footnotes, or endnotes. Citing sources is crucial to validate claims and credit previous research. | Rarely include full citations. If sources are mentioned, they are often in the text rather than in a formal bibliography. | |
| Language | Formal and technical, using specialized vocabulary and jargon specific to the academic discipline. | Simple, accessible, and non-technical. The writing style is often more informal and engaging to appeal to a broad readership. | |
| Layout and Appearance | Simple, with minimal and functional design. Articles may include tables, graphs, and charts to present data, but have few images or advertisements. | Glossy and colorful, with many advertisements and large photographs. The focus is on visual appeal to attract and hold the reader's attention. | |
| Length | Often long and detailed, as the goal is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the topic. | Generally short, with a focus on capturing a reader's attention quickly. | |
| Availability | Primarily accessed through academic libraries and research databases, which often require a subscription. | Widely available at newsstands, grocery stores, bookstores, and websites. |
Florida Atlantic University Libraries (Director). (2022, July 21). Popular versus Scholarly Publications [Video recording]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuiPaTssleY