Guides: Penguin Hall Research Guide: Web Resources

Evaluating Web Content

Google Scholar is a great starting place for initial research. Unlike a regular Google search, Google Scholar attempts to connect you with more "academic" content then information typically found on the web.

As with any web searching important evaluation work will still need to be done on each of the resources you are looking at. Use the following criteria to evaluation the information from Google Scholar or other web searches.

AUTHORSHIP
Websites can be produced by individuals or organizations.
Reputable websites will have authorship information easily visible,
including both the authors' names and credentials.
ACCURACY
To use information in your research it must be judged accurate and
verifiable before use.
CURRENCY
Look for the publication date of the website, frequent updates, and
dates for specific articles.
CONTENT
Does the information provided by the website meet your research need?
PURPOSE
A website's purpose is the reason it was created. This should be very clear.
Note that some websites might present opinions as facts but they are
actually attempting to sell a product or persuade you.

Evaluation Web Resources
Use this information sheet for criteria to look for in evaluating web articles. Including a list of evaluation questions.

Websites

GENERAL

National Institute of Health
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives.
National Library of Medicine
The world’s largest biomedical library, NLM maintains and makes available a vast print collection and produces electronic information resources on a wide range of topics.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
Science.gov
Gateway to reliable information about science and technology from across federal government organizations, including technical reports, journal citations, databases, federal Web sites and fact sheets.
WorldWideScience.org
A global science gateway for federated searching of national and international scientific databases and portals.

CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Protection Agency
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment. Their site provides information on programs, publications, databases, laws and regulations.
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

GENE THERAPY

American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy
The ASGCT's mission is to advance knowledge, awareness, and education leading to the discovery and clinical application of gene and cell therapies to alleviate human disease.

GENOMICS

National Center for Biotechnology Information
The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
National Human Genome Research Institute
NHGRI's mission has expanded to encompass a broad range of studies aimed at understanding the structure and function of the human genome and its role in health and disease.

VACCINES & IMMUNIZATION

Center for Disease Control & Prevention
The leading national public health institute of the United States. It provides information about infectious diseases, food borne pathogens, environmental health, occupational safety and health, health promotion, and injury prevention primarily for the health and protection of the U.S., but it contains a lot of high-level information about diseases.
History of Vaccines
The History of Vaccines is an informational, educational website created by The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, one of the oldest medical societies in the United States. This site aims to increase public knowledge and understanding of the ways in which vaccines, toxoids, and passive immunization work, how they have been developed, and the role they have played in the improvement of human health.
Immunization Action Coalition
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) works to increase immunization rates and prevent disease by creating and distributing educational materials for health professionals and the public that enhance the delivery of safe and effective immunization services.
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease
NIAID conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.
Vaccines.gov
Vaccines.gov is the federal gateway to information on vaccines and immunization for infants, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors. Vaccines.gov provides resources from federal agencies for the general public and their communities about vaccines across the lifespan.