Evaluating Web Resources
5 Major Criteria
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Accuracy
Authority
Objectivity
Currency
Coverage
Accuracy
• Is the information reliable and error-free?
• Is there an editor or someone who
verifies/checks the information?
• Can you contact him or her?
• What is the purpose of the document and
why was it produced?
Accuracy
• Rationale:
http://www.ihr.org
– Anyone can publish anything on the Web.
– Unlike traditional print resources, web
resources rarely have editors or fact-checkers.
– Currently, no web standards exist to ensure
accuracy.
– Know the distinction between author and
webmaster.
Authority
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Is there an author? Is the page signed?
Is the author qualified? An expert?
Who is the sponsor?
Is the sponsor of the page reputable?
Is there a link to information about the
author/sponsor?
• Can you determine the domain origin of the
page?
Authority
• Rationale:
http://oncolink.upenn.edu
– It’s often hard to determine a web page’s
authorship.
– Even if a page is signed, qualifications aren’t
generally given.
– Look for a header or footer showing affiliation.
– Look at the domain. (.edu, .com, .ac.uk, .org.,
net)
Objectivity
• Does the information show a minimum of
bias?
• Is the information factual or opinion?
• View any Web page as you would an
infomercial on television. Ask yourself why
was this written and for whom?
Objectivity
• Rationale: http://www.beefnutrition.org
• Frequently the goals of the sponsors aren’t
clearly stated.
• Often the Web serves as a virtual
“soapbox”.
• Be wary of advertising masked as
information.
Currency
• Is the page dated?
• Is so, when was the last update?
• How current are the links? Have some
expired or moved?
Currency
• Rationale: http://usatoday.com
• Publication or revision dates not always
provided.
• If a date is provided, it may have various
meanings. For example:
– It may indicate when the material was first
written.
– It may indicate a last revision or when it was
first placed on the web.
Coverage
• What topics are covered?
• What does this page offer that is not found
elsewhere?
• How in-depth is the material?
• Is it all images, or a balance of text and
images?
• Is the information presented cited correctly?
Coverage
• Rationale: http://www.usatoday.com/leadpage/about.htm
• Web coverage often differs from print
coverage.
• Sometimes web information is just-for-fun
or outright silliness
• Is it free, or is there a fee, to obtain the
information?
Format and Presentation
• Is the information easy to get to? How
many links does it take to get to something
useful?
• Is the target audience or intended users
clearly indicated?
• Does the site have its own search engine?
• Http://www.whitehouse.net