Consider these concepts as you navigate information for your classes. This criteria can also be applied to print sources and media.
ACCURACY
How reliable is the information?
Remember, almost anyone can publish on the web. As opposed to scholarly or academic sources in print or online, many web sites are not verified. There are no web standards to ensure accuracy. If there are no references or other sources cited it will be more difficult to establish accuracy.
AUTHORITY
What are the author’s qualifications for writing on this subject?
Is the author's expertise well established or transparent?
How reputable is the publisher or sponsoring organization?
It is often difficult to determine the authorship and qualifications. [Try Googling or checking Wikipedia for the name, organization]
OBJECTIVITY/BIAS
Is there bias?
Are the goals or aims of the individual or group clearly stated or transparent?
Remember that many people consider the web as a place to state their opinions. Bias will often exist, but it helps to be clear about it before you use the information.
CURRENCY
Is the content up-to-date?
Often dates are omitted or may mean the date that the information was originally written, the date it was placed on the web, or the date it was last revised.
COVERAGE
What topics are covered and to what depth?
Coverage may differ from print resources.
AFFILIATION
Is there a corporate entity [i.e. company, government, organization, university] that supports this site?
Is there a link to the homepage of the organization?
Is there contact information such as an email link and a snail mail address?
How might this affiliation
affect objectivity?
AUDIENCE
Can you idtentify what audience the material is intended for? Is it for students in elementary school? Middle school? High school? Is it for adults? Other experts or professionals?
How difficult is the material?
Is the language or data used complex and specific, or simplified?
STABILITY OF
INFORMATION
It’s here today but will it be here tomorrow?
Can you cite it with some assurance that it will be found again?
PRIVILEGE / ACCESS
Were there limitations or gatekeepers as to who has access to the research or information or who is able to publish the work?
Think about if there is anyone else who might contribute a different perspective to the information. Seek out those voices might be missing, left-out, or not prioritized in the work.
CONTEXT
Has the information been removed or extracted from an original source?
Sometimes it can be hard to tell if the information is accurate or reliable if it has been taken out of it's original context.
DOMAINS/URLs
Domain name types and checking out the URL or the DOI for the page or site can provide some help. Some of the basics are:
- com – commercial business [the most common TLD]
- org – organizations [typically, nonprofit]
- gov – government agencies.
- edu – educational institutions.
- net – network organizations.
- mil – military.
How do I Evaluate Websites?
Evaluating Websites
When using the Internet, you must remember that it lacks any kind of quality control and it is not regulated in any way.
The burden of determining the value of information found on the Internet is on the user.
You should consider these criteria for evaluating Web resources [Accuracy, Authority, Objectivity, Currency, Coverage, and Relevancy].
Accuracy
Is the website
well-researched and information properly cited?
Are facts and statistics documented?
Can the information be verified in other sources?
Is the page well-written and organized?
Authority
Can you identify the author of the website? An author can be an individual, company, educational institution, government agency, non-profit organization, etc.
What are the qualifications or credentials of the author? Is the author affiliated with a reputable institution?
Objectivity
Are there biases in the Web page? Is this the site of a company selling products or an individual/organization with a specific agenda?
Are the goals or aims of the author clearly stated?
Currency
Is there a date when the website was last updated?
Are the links from the site up-to-date?
Coverage
How does the information compare with other sources available on the topic?
What is the reading level of the material?
Are there
references or links to more information?
Relevancy
The website may be cool, but is the content appropriate for your research needs?