Why evaluate the Web?
The Web is not regulated for quality or accuracy.
Content is not approved prior to publication.
Anyone can publish anything he or she wants.
Due to the sheer amount of information on the Web, one must carefully
examine and select for quality.
Criteria For Evaluating the Quality of a Web Site
Authority or Authenticity - Who's behind the site?
Can you identify the author?
Is contact information provided?
Is there a phone and mailing address in addition to an e-mail address?
What are the credentials of the individual or group that created the
site?
Do the credentials have anything to do with the information presented?
Who publishes the web site/page? Is it a well-known agency?
Are the goals of the publishing organization described?
Accuracy - Information that is complete, correct, and independently verifiable.
Is the information complete and is it presented in the proper context?
Is the content free of grammatical and spelling errors?
Can the content be independently verified, i.e. is bibliographic citation
information provided?
How does the value of this web site compare with other information
resources available on the topic?
Objectivity - Impartial or unbiased interpretation or analysis of data.
What is the purpose of this web site?
Is the author endorsing a particular viewpoint?
Does the page present other viewpoints or opinions?
What is the author's motivation for publishing this information?
Is the tone calm and reasoned or highly emotional?
Is there impartial or unbiased interpretation of the data?
Is the author affiliated with a particular organization?
Is the page really a mask for advertising?
Timeliness - Information that is current at the time of publication or up-to-date information provided expeditiously.
Is the information current at the time of publication?
Is it important that the information be current?
When was the page created?
Is there a copyright date?
Is time sensitive information current and removed when it becomes
out-dated?
Design - Is the site well-designed?
Is the design of the page aesthetically pleasing, i.e. is it "easy
on the eyes"? Is the information arranged logically?
How easy is it to navigate the web site? The "four click rule"
- it should never require more than four clicks to get where you need
to be.
Is there an index or table of contents?
Do the graphics serve a function, or are they decorative?
Does the page look okay in different browsers?
Is specialized software needed to access or view the page?
Has attention been paid to the needs of the disabled?
Maintenance - Is the site maintained?
When was the page last revised? Is the date more than 1 or
2 years old?
Are there any dead links?
Are there typographical errors?
Links To Other Sites on Web Resource Evaluation
- Critical
Evaluation Surveys: (K-12 tools)
by Kathleen Schrock, Library Media Specialist, NH Wixon Middle School, S. Dennis, MA - Evaluating Information Found on the Internet
Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins University - Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask
University of California Berkley Library - Evaluation of Information Sources
A World-Wide Web Virtual Library bibliography of evaluation web sites
