LibGuides: Veterinary Assistant Research Guide: Find Websites

Evaluating Web Resources

Before using a website for a paper or project, you should evaluate it to make sure that it is appropriate for college level research. Consider the following criteria when you are evaluating a website:

Currency: Does the website state the date of last update or copyright? Was the website updated recently? If links are included, are they working?
Reliability/Relevance: Does the website include sources for all factual information? Are these sources credible and current? Is the information presented on the website consistent with the other sources you have found? Does the website provide a way to contact the author or organization for additional information?
Authority: Who authored this information? Was it a single person or several people? Was it a corporation or organization? Are their credentials provided? What is their reputation or expertise?
Accuracy: Where does the information come from? Is the information supported by evidence? Has the information been reviewed or refereed? Can you verify any of hte information in another source? Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?
Purpose/Point of View: Does the website clearly state its mission or purpose? Does the mission or purpose of this website present a potential bias? Is the intended audience clear and is the content appropriate for the level of research you are performing?

Understanding Domain Names

The domain of a website indicates the type of entity responsible for creating and maintaining the site. The domain can be found in the site's URL and is always preceded by a "." Some common examples are: .com (commercial), .edu (educational), and .gov (government). Get information on these and more here.

Creating Citations for Websites

Citing resources is an important part of your work!

For more examples, visit Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab)

An Entire Website

Remember to use n.p. if no publisher name is available and n.d. if no publishing date is given.

Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of access.

A Page on a Website

"Title." website. Publisher, n.d. Web. Date of access.

Selected Websites

AVMA-American Veterinary Medical Association
AVMA is a not-for-profit association acts as a collective and informative voice for the veterinary profession.

FDA U.S. Food & Drug Administration- Animal & Veterinary Resources
The FDA provides the latest information regarding important issues such as recently approved medications or pet food recalls. As well as other relevant sources that are useful to students and the public.

NIH - DVM Division The Division of Veterinary Resources (DVR) of the National Institutes of Health contributes to the advancement of the NIH biomedical research mission by providing excellence in animal care and specialized research services to support the NIH research mission. You'll find more information on their website.

National Association of Veterinary Technicians
Harper College is proud to be one of a handful of schools approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians. This page provides information relevant to the field.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The ASPCA provides local and national leadership in three key areas: caring for pet parents and pets, providing positive outcomes for at-risk animals and serving victims of animal cruelty.

DVM360.com is the home of dvm360 magazine, Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Economics, Firstline, and the CVC Group. This website has information and blogs on many topics, including veterinary news, medicine, business, hosptial design, community, and jobs.

The American Animal Hospital Association is the only organization that accredits companion veterinary hospitals. Find more information on their website.