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Biology Lab Reports: Website Evaluation

Website Selection Reminders

Most websites are not going to provide the level of academic integrity required for your research. Even Google Scholar is not limited to articles that are written, edited, and fact-checked by subject experts. "Scholarly" sources most commonly refer to peer-reviewed publications that adhere to academic writing standards such as citation of sources. Academic peer review is a process in which works are vetted by experts in the field before being accepted for publication.

Try these search engines to find scholarly articles:

Try this site for open access scientific articles:

Try these for more for general background info:

Remember NOT to use: 

  • Wikipedia
  • General encyclopedias
  • Ask.com
  • Personal blogs
  • Opinion sites

Website Evaluation Checklist

pmwired.com

Currency

Authority                       

Accuracy

Relevance

Purpose

 

The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue has some very helpful information on evaluating both print and Internet sources.