Evaluating Web Sites

Because information on the web changes daily and because any group, organization, or person can publish a web page, you need to examine the information you find on the web very critically. Anyone can publish anything on the web. There is no central authority reviewing the validity or currency of information on web sites. In your last reading, you learned the basics of evaluating printed materials and the critical thinking required in assessing the Who, What, When, When and Why of a particular journal article, book or report. Thus, it is equally important to evaluate every web site, just as you would evaluate any other source, before accepting it as a source of credible information for your research. Very often there are no rigorous editorial and review standards for individuals or groups publishing web pages. At the same time, it is possible that even the most professional looking sites will contain information that is inaccurate and out-of-date. Before citing a web page as a source, take a few minutes to explore the larger web site. Citing a single web page out of context, without examining the Who, What When Where and Why could result in you including a source that is substandard or suspect. Let's apply the five basic questions to evaluating web pages. You may wish to use the Web Site Evaluation Worksheet to help organize your notes. Who? Evaluate the Author or the Authority Who created the page? Is this information clearly indicated? Are the authors or author of the web page presenting the opinions of a business, organization, individual? Can you find information on the web home page or a link identifying the authors and their credentials? Can you find information linking the site to a specific organization or institution? What? Evaluate for Accuracy, Validity and Comprehensiveness Can the information on the web site be checked or verified in another source? Can you compare the contents of the online source to another reputable source? Is the site meant to be comprehensive, or is it just an overview of the subject? Are there links to other sites with additional or alternative views? Are the sources the author used to compile the web site clearly identified? Does information on the web page conform to what you already know about the subject you are researching? Is the information pertinent to your topic? Do you need to find a better or another source of information such as the library's reference or book collection? Do you know enough about your topic to critically examine your search results? Reminder: If you land in the middle of a web site and need to find the home page to learn more about the author or publisher, review these hints about URLs from the previous unit. When? Evaluate for Currency Does the web page include the date it was created? Is it possible to find out when it was last updated or revised? Are new pages featured in an "Updated Pages" link? Will the currency of the site's information impact your research? Is it important to have the most current information on your topic? Where? Evaluate for Presentation, Style, Functionality, Organization, and Navigability Is the site clearly laid out and easy to maneuver? Are there ways to search for information on the site, an internal searching function? Check to see what sites link to this site using the field specific link search. Is the site easily navigated? Is it well organized? Is there a site map? Do the links work? Why? Evaluation for Objectivity and Bias Try to find the home page of the web site to find this information. What is the purpose of the web page? Is it satire, humor, entertainment, news information, advocacy, criticism, marketing, personal, analysis, facts, opinion, commentary, narrative, statistics, etc.? What is the intention or perspective of the web site? Is the site trying to educate, persuade, sell, or advocate?

To learn more: Evaluating Internet Information (Virginia Tech) This table can help you sift "good" information from "bad" on the Internet. It includes suggestions for what to look for within sites to help make your evaluation. Evaluating Information Found on the Internet (Johns Hopkins University) This document discusses the criteria by which scholars in most fields evaluate print information, and shows how the same criteria can be used to assess information found on the Internet.