Investigating Criteria That Seventh Graders Use to Evaluate the Quality of Online Information
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
1-1-2015
Abstract
This article presents qualitative findings from a study that examined the types of criteria that middle school students use to evaluate the quality of online information and sources for a Web-based research assignment. Open-constructed responses from four critical evaluation items were compiled from diverse seventh graders in a representative, two-state, stratified random sample (n = 773). Content analysis revealed that many students used a range of unacceptable or superficial criteria to determine the author of a website and whether that author is an expert, to state the author's point of view, and to provide reasoned evidence about the overall reliability of a website. Criteria and evidence patterns that students used for each of the critical evaluation tasks are shared, as well as implications for instruction.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy
Volume
59
Issue
3
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Coiro, Julie, Carla Coscarelli, Cheryl Maykel, and Elena Forzani. "Investigating Criteria That Seventh Graders Use to Evaluate the Quality of Online Information." Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy 59, 3 (2015): 287-297. doi: 10.1002/jaal.448.