Evaluating Web Sites
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version of this document is available
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- ANYBODY can post ANYTHING
on the internet. Therefore, before using information
found on the web, you need to ask yourself, "Who is
the author of this information?," "What are his or
her credentials?," and "Why is this information
published on the internet?"
- Find clues to help you
assess the authority, accuracy, objectivity,
currency, coverage, and design of the web
page.
- Look in the header, body,
footer, and URL of the web page for these clues. Too
often, you are unable to tell what a page is about or
who wrote it. Before using information contained
within such a page, ask yourself "If this is
important and valid information, why are pertinent
data such as author, credentials and purpose not
included?"
Authority:
- Who is responsible for the
page?
Check for a name and mail or
e-mail address. Be careful, "webmaster" often refers
to the person who loads the pages, not necessarily to
the author of the web site.
- What can you tell about the
author?
If an individual is the
author, can you find biographical information such as
credentials, occupational position, and institutional
affiliation? If an institution is the author, can you
find information about the institution such as
address, history, and purpose?
- Is the author of the page
the author of the information?
Sometimes the web page author
and the web page designer are two different people.
Make sure that the name listed refers to the person
responsible for the content of the web
page.
Accuracy:
- Is the web page free from
errors?
Check for accuracy of the
dates and data as well as for mispelling and
grammatical errors.
- Can the information be
verified?
Are the sources used (web
sites and other publications) clearly referenced?
Look for footnotes, bibliographies, etc.
Objectivity:
- What is the purpose and
intended audience of the web site?
Each web site has its own
purpose. Knowing the type of web site you are looking
at will help you to identify a potential bias.
Librarians at
Widener University classified the various types of
web sites and their sponsors, purposes, and URL
extensions as follows:
Advocacy Sites
Checklist |
- Sponsored by organizations.
- Promote ideas and opinions and recruit
members.
|
.org |
Business/Marketing Sites
Checklist |
- Sponsored by commercial enterprises.
- Promote and/or sell products.
|
.com |
Informational Sites
Checklist |
- Sponsored by educational institutions or
government agencies.
|
.edu
.gov |
News Sites
Checklist |
- Sponsored by news agencies.
- Provide current information.
|
.com |
Personal Sites
Checklist |
- Published by individuals.
- Provide personal opinions and
interests.
|
Varies |
Currency:
- When was the page created
and when was it last updated?
Check in the footer, where the
authorship and date information are usually
listed.
- Is any information
obviously out of date?
For example, if the page
contains a schedule or calendar, is it
current?
- Can you tell how frequently
the page is updated and when to expect the next
update?
Coverage:
- Is the scope of the page
clearly stated?
When looking at the site, can
you tell if this is a comprehensive study, a short
report, conference notes, etc.?
- Are links to other web
sites available?
- Is a bibliography
present?
- How does the site compare
to other resources concerning the same
subject?
Design:
- Is the web page clearly set
up and its information logically
organized?
Are there titles on each page,
links to other sections of the site,
etc.?
- Are the graphics, tables,
and frames used in a manner that is conducive to the
transfer of information?
- Can you easily understand
the contents of the web site and follow the argument
or presentation being made?
- Is the page easy to
navigate?
- Are the links still
active?
|
Finding
More: 
Catalog