Lesson 4.01: Evaluating Websites

There is a wealth of information to be found on the World Wide Web making it an incredible resource for research. However, not all of the information is placed there by reliable sources. When a resource book is published, the content has been reviewed for accuracy and objectivity. Additionally, the credentials of the author have been verified. A copyright date is provided so everyone will know how current the information is, and by examining the table of contents the depth of coverage can be ascertained. The same does not hold true for all Internet resources by any means. Therefore, it is essential you know how to effectively evaluate information found on the Web.

Evaluating Print Materials

There are five main evaluation criteria for printed materials. Becoming familiar with these criteria can assist with evaluating web resources.

Accuracy: Prior to publication, printed materials are checked for reliability and errors.
Authority: The qualifications of the author and the reputation of the publisher can easily be determined.
Objectivity: Information should be free from bias and attempts to influence the opinion of the reader.
Currency: is easily determined by the publication date.
Coverage: Topics in the work are examined for depth and comprehensiveness.

Understanding the five criteria for evaluating print materials can assist in evaluating information found on the Web. However, evaluating web resources presents unique challenges.

Evaluating websites

While we can use some aspects of the traditional print evaluation criteria, web resources require a more in-depth evaluation. Therefore, when evaluating web resources, we will examine the following components:

Authority				Not all web pages will identify the author and/or creator of the page. As mentioned earlier, anyone can publish on the Web. If you cannot identify who wrote the web page, you may not want to use it as a resource. If an email address is provided, you can send a message inquiring about the author. Be sure the author is the original creator of the information also. Furthermore, examine the credentials of the author. What makes the author qualified to publish on this topic? Has the author listed his/her occupation, years of experience, position, education, or other credentials? If this information is not noticeable immediately, examine the header and footer of the web page to see if this information is presented there.
Affiliation				What institution (company, organization, government, university, etc.) or Internet provider supports this information? Examine the URL and domain name to determine who sponsors this web page. Well known sources such as the U.S. government, universities, large newspapers, and companies will have more reliable information than homepages of unfamiliar groups and those who create web pages for a hobby. Some of the more common domain names are: edu = educational institution gov = government agency org = organization com net = network affiliation
Function				Web pages are created for numerous purposes: entertainment, business, marketing, as a reference tool, for information, to provide current events or news, to further the interests of special interest groups, to have a personal place on the Web, or just for fun. Decide what is the intended purpose of the web page. Was it created to inform others about a specific topic or to explain a particular concept? Was the web page created to persuade others to the same point of view? Was it created just for fun?
Objectivity				Similar to function is objectivity. Is the information provided as a public service? Is it objective and free from bias? If it is not clearly stated, attempt to determine the purpose or motivation of the author for publishing the web page. Avoid using web pages that are a "virtual soapbox." Also, is the information free of advertising? If there is advertising on the web page, is it clearly differentiated from the informational content?
Audience				Who is the intended audience for this web page? Is the information appropriate for the intended audience? Is the reading level appropriate? These are all very important questions to ask when evaluating the suitability of a web page for your intended audience.
Currency				Determine the date when the web page was created, or when the page was last updated. A good web page will clearly state when the page was last revised or updated. However, this information is often missing. If the date the page was created, updated, or revised is not apparent, you may attempt to email the author.
Content				As you look at the content of the web page, keep your objectives in mind. What topics are covered? Information should be clearly labeled and well organized. How much detail is there to the information? Links within the site should work. Check links to be sure they are appropriate for your intended audience. Again, the content should be free of any bias. Another important question to consider is what does this website have to offer when compared to other sources, including non-Internet sources? There are times when content found on the Internet will not be as useful as traditional print material.
website Design				website design is the way in which a web page is arranged. website design can greatly enhance or detract from the effectiveness of a web page. A web page should load quickly and efficiently. The page should have a good general appearance and be pleasing to the eye. Background and font colors should not be distracting, and fonts should allow for easy reading. Web pages using dark backgrounds and light fonts are difficult to print . White font color will not show up on white paper. The web page should be easy to navigate. Links should lead to related materials, work properly, be clearly marked, and well organized.