Guide to Evaluating Websites
Evaluate a site’s: Accuracy
Ask yourself:
- Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her?
- What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced?
- Is this person qualified to write this document?
You need to:
- Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number.
- Know the distinction between author and Webmaster.
Evaluate a site’s: Authority
Ask yourself:
- Who published the document and is it separate from the “Webmaster”?
- Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this document?
- Does the Publisher list his or her qualifications?
You need to:
- Find the credentials listed for the author(s).
- Find where the document was published. (HINT: Check URL domain.)
Evaluate a site’s: Bias
Ask yourself:
- What goals/objectives does this page meet?
- How detailed is the information?
- What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author?
- How is the information presented?
You need to:
- Determine if page is a mask for advertising; if so information might be biased.
- View any Web page as you would an infomercial on television. Ask yourself why was this written and for whom?
Evaluate a site’s: Currency
Ask yourself:
- When was it produced?
- When was it updated?
- How up-to-date are the links (if any)?
You need to:
- Determine how many dead links are on the page.
- Determine if the links are current or updated regularly.
- Determine if the information on the page is outdated.
Evaluate a site’s: Content
Ask yourself:
- Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the documents’ theme?
- Is it all images or a balance of text and images?
- Is the information presented cited correctly?
You need to:
- If page requires special software to view the information, know how much you are missing if you don’t have the software.
- Determine if the site is free, or if it has a fee to obtain the information.
- Determine if there is an option for text only, or frames, or suggested browser for better viewing.
Putting it all together
- Accuracy: If your page lists the author and institution that published the page and provides a way of contacting him/her, and…
- Authority: If your page lists the author credentials and its domain is preferred (.edu, .gov, .org, or .net), and…
- Bias: If your page provides accurate information with limited advertising and it is objective in presenting the information, and…
- Currency: If your page is current and updated regularly(as stated on the page) and the links (if any) are also up-to-date, and…
- Content: If you can view the information properly-not limited to fees, browser technology, or software requirement, then…
You may have a higher quality Web page that could be of value to your research!
Table courtesy of Jim Kapoun, Southwest State University
Table modified by Christina Connor, 69É«ÇéÊÓƵ of NJ, June 2008
