GUIDELINES for Editors

Validation

Validating links can be done through a series of tests on the material. Beyond the questions asked in the other sections, which are important to consider before inclusion in bmesource, how does one determine the validity of a link? Here are some steps to take:

1. Follow links: links on the page that you are considering including should be followed to determine the content on them. Is it equally reliable? Is there questionable material just a "link away?" If so, one needs to consider again the realiability of the link in question. A good page could possibly be found in the middle of a bad site, but what does that say about the future reliability of that content?

2. Examine the URL: is the last part of the domain .com, .org., .edu or .gov? These are generally reliable sites (although .org and .com may show bias) Country codes (such as .ru or .tv) should be reviewed more agressively. If you delete parts of the URL (starting at the right and working toward the left) what content is revealed? If that content is questionable, then the first link you started with should also be considered questionable.

3. Examine the information: does it appear to be accurate, written by an expert, free from bias. Does it provide references to back its claims? If you can't say for sure the accuracy of the exact page (for instance, if it discusses a new discovery or invention), are there other parts of the site that you can determine for sure are accurate?

4. Check for currency: is there an update date at the bottom of the page? If not, check the date of the content by selecting Get Info from your browser's Tools or View menu to see the pages creation date, etc. Also check dates of any reference materials given. If the references are decades old, you may wish to question the resource's currency.

5. View source: use this tool (found in your browser's View, Tools or Edit menu) to see the HTML code behind the page. In some cases content is provided in the top of the page (in the META tag area) that reflects author, date or other relevant evaluative information.

6. Are the links maintained? Do the links that they provide on the page go to active, useful URLs? If they're not maintaining the links, you should also question the content.

7. Is the currency level appropriate to the content provided? Some content need not be continually updated - historical information, for instance. Make sure that the currency of the material matches the type of material.

8. Compare to other similar materials: to find a place in bmesource the resource needs to provide material above and beyond the average page of content in that area. Since link groups contain no more than 7 links, those seven should be the best seven one could find. If the link being considered is no better than the ones already in place then it need not be included. It should either provide additional insight into the area or have something uniquely special about it.