Website Evaluation Resources
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1. Read rationale for evaluation of websites:
     Rationale
     Criteria
 
2. Thinking critically about WWW resources:
     Deconstructing Web Pages
     Evaluating Internet Research Resources
     The Five W's of Cyberspace
     How to Search the Internet Effectively
     Internet Glossary: Authenticating Online Information
     UCLA College Library Help Guide
 
3. Determining the accuracy and authenticity of a website:
     Hoax? Scholarly Research? Personal Opinon?
 
4. Take a look at these sites. Can you tell if they are real or fake?
     Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie
     California's Velcro Crop Under Challenge
     Clones-R-Us
     Dihydrogen Monoxide
     Dog Island
     Ladies Against Women
     Lasik at Home
     MoonBeam Enterprises & Lunar Travel Agency
     Republic World News
     RYT Hospital - Male Pregnancy
     Sasquatch
     Tree Octopus
List of Bogus Websites
 
General Website Evaluation Resources
     CyberGuides for Evaluating Websites
     Evaluating Web Sites
     Evaluation Criteria
     Evaluation Rubrics
     Web Critical Thinking Exercise
     Web Pages That Suck

                                                                                         Updated 11/15/06

 Five criteria for evaluating Web pages                            Return to Top of Page
 Evaluation of Web documents  How to interpret the basics
 1. Accuracy of Web Documents
  • 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?
Accuracy
  • Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number.
  • Know the distinction between author and Webmaster.
 2. Authority of Web Documents
  • 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?
Authority
  • What credentials are listed for the author(s)?
  • Where is the document published? Check URL domain.
 3. Objectivity of Web Documents
  • What goals/objectives does this page meet?
  • How detailed is the information?
  • What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author?
 Objectivity
  • Determine if page is a mask for advertising; if so information might be biased.
  • View any Web page as you would an infommercial on television. Ask yourself why was this written and for whom?
 4. Currency of Web Documents
  • When was it produced?
  • When was it updated?
  • How up-to-date are the links (if any)?
Currency
  • How many dead links are on the page?
  • Are the links current or updated regularly?
  • Is the information on the page outdated?
 5. Coverage of the Web Documents
  • 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?
Coverage
  • If page requires special software to view the information, how much are you missing if you don’t have the software?
  • Is it free, or is there a fee, to obtain the information?
  • Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a 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 . . .
  • Objectivity. 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 . . .
  • Coverage. 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!