LibraryEvaluating Websites
Bias
Your professors may tell you that you should find "objective" or "unbiased" information for your papers. What does this mean?
On some level, bias in just about every information source you'll find. In some cases—for instance, when you are looking for examples of a particular point of view to illustrate an position on a controversial issue—it can be very useful. But in many cases, a strong bias can make the material less useful to you.
Recall www.martinlutherking.org. The authors of that site provide references to facts and dispute that their viewpoint is slanted. Some of the references are valid, and it is indeed verifiable that King plagiarized other authors, had extra-marital sex with women, associated with Communists, and was investigated by the FBI. But a "true historical examination" that was relatively unbiased would place these facts in a more developed context; would examine the Civil Rights work for which King is generally celebrated; and would probably not include pages attacking violent rap lyrics and Kwanzaa, which have little or nothing to do with King.
Nonprofits and bias
When you are using information from nonprofits, foundations, and think tanks, determining the level of bias is extremely important, since most of these organizations have a particular perspective that they are promoting.
For instance, the American Enterprise Institute, like many think tanks, has a number of well-researched, high-quality reports up at their site on various issues you might be researching for a paper.
If you read the AEI "about" page, you'll find that the organization holds an agenda that might be classified as economically conservative or libertarian. (Click the image to see the statement.)
When an organization has such a perspective, you should keep it in mind when using their materials; how does the argument serve that perspective? If you are able to incorporate this kind of analysis into your writing, you will be showing a sophistication that your professors will likely appreciate.
If the organization engages in direct political advocacy, you should be doubly careful. Keep these questions in mind:
- Does the website encourage its visitors to write letters to politicians in support of or opposition to causes?
- Does it promote a particular agenda?
- Does it supply "talking points" on particular issues?
Such a website (click the image for an example) might still contain some useful information in the form of longer reports, but again, you always need to use them as evidence of a particular point of view—not as objective analysis.
