Evaluating Web Sites
The World Wide Web is rich with information to help you research almost any topic. However, not all of the information you find there is useful or reliable. As you use the Internet for research it is important that you evaluate the information that you find. Here are some questions you should answer about each website you locate. If you can answer “yes” to most of the questions, then you have probably found a valuable site.
Authority
Consider the source. Remember, anyone can publish a website!
- Can you find the author's name on the article?
- Does the page include biographical information about the author?
- Does the author's education and/or experience qualify him to write the article?
- Does the site have a sponsor and, if so, can you determine the organization's goals and values?
- Is the page affiliated with an educational institution (.edu), the federal government (.gov) or a reputable organization (.org)?
- Does the author cite the sources used in the research?
Purpose and Point of View
Just because it is online does not mean it is true.
- Are the purpose and objectives of the document clearly stated?
- Does the page provide information that cannot be found in other sources?
- Is the page intended for your age and education level?
- Does the author present both sides of issues?
- Is the author objective?
- Does the author present evidence to support any conclusions?
- Is the presentation of information more important than any commercials on the site?
Currency, Accuracy, and Scope
Do not assume anything.
- Can you determine when the document was created and most recently updated?
- Is the document based on a print version? (An online version is not necessarily the latest one. It may include very old information!)
- Does the information appear to be reliable and error-free?
- Are all links up-to-date and usable?
- Is the material in-depth?
- Is the site valuable compared to other sources on the topic?
Access and Navigation
Is the site worth your time?
- Does the site have an acceptable loading speed?
- Is it easy to use?
- Is the site technically reliable—not frequently shut down, overloaded, or unavailable?
- Is information on the site organized logically?
- Does the use of graphics, color and text make it visually appealing and easy to read?
- Is providing information more important than fancy gimmicks on this page?
- Does the page have a table of contents or an index?
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disclaimer. Last modified March 6, 2009.
