Evaluating Websites

Finding information on the web can be a very satisfying or frustrating experience. Even if you're a novice web user, you know that anyone can publish anything on the web. Because of this, you will undoubtedly uncover websites that carry inaccurate, biased, misleading, outdated, or mean-spirited information. The ability to tell the good from the bad is an invaluable skill that you can learn in a short time. Use the following criteria to improve your evaluative skills.

Source/Authorship

Purpose

Content

This factor will help you determine the reliability of a site. Pay attention to the following factors:

The web is used to inform, persuade, entertain, and even to slander. Make sure you know the real purpose of the sites you find.

A high quality website is one that is carefully presented, meaningful to its audience, and current.

Source/Author is obvious

Yes
No

Author's credentials are prominently displayed

Yes
Not immediately obvious, but look closely.

Purpose (to inform, persuade, entertain, advertise, etc.) is apparent.

Yes
Yes (Low-fat ice cream, yum! Just be aware that its makers will only have positive things to say about their products.)
No--but look carefully to uncover the bias.

Opinions are presented as such

Yes--this site makes it clear that you should always try to study both sides of a controversial issue
No

Supporting material (bibliographies, charts, etc.) is included and correctly attributed

Yes
No

Information is reliable and free from factual errors.

Yes
No, but look closely

Material is presented at a sufficiently scholarly level

Yes
No--not for college-level research

Site is current

Yes
No

Site is logically organized and easy to navigate

Yes
Yes
No--too many competing, dizzying links, music and graphics. Where to begin?