Evaluation of Web Pages
Evaluating the credibility of the information that you find on the Web is critical. This endeavor is similar to the process used when evaluating print
resources. Here is a checklist of questions to ask when evaluating an Internet resource.
Authority/
Expertise
Who is the author or producer of the page? Do they give credentials, experience, or other information
about themselves? Is there a way to contact them? Can you verify any claims that are made?
Is the sponsor of the page a university, institute, organization or a company? Does the sponsorship
give the page added authority?
Audience/
Purpose
For whom is the page intended? Youth, seniors, adults? General, specialized?
Consumers? Anyone?
Is the purpose stated? If not, is it obvious from the content or display?
Does the page provide fact, opinion, or propaganda? Could it be categorized as advertising, vanity publishing, informative,
explanatory, conversational, or persuasive?
Content/
Scope
Is the page comprehensive? Or current? How recently was the
page updated? Does the page provide unique information? Or a
valuable synthesis? Is it accurate? Is there an obvious bias?
Are the sources of information given appropriate credit? Are the links relevant and appropriate?
Style/
Functionality
Is the page well organized?
Do the links work? Are you able to get to the home page from the page
you’re on?
Are you able to get to other related pages within the site? If the page is a long one, are there links to navigate within the page?
Are good grammar and correct spelling used?
Web Pages on Evaluation Criteria
Listed here are Web pages that provide
additional guidelines or considerations when evaluating an Internet resource.
ICYouSee:
Everything you needed to find on the web from A to Z: T is for Thinking
(Ithaca College)
This one has an example to evaluate.
Evaluating
Internet Resources (University of Albany Libraries)
Evaluating
Internet Sites (Purdue University)
Take the tutorial, or click on the link to
"Understanding a Web Page Layout". This page provides a visual guide to web page sections,
with a list of where selected types of information are generally found.
Thinking
Critically About World Wide Web Resources (UCLA College Library)
Evaluating
Internet Research Sources (R. Harris, Educator)
Page Creator: Beth Brin,
208-426-3136 Albertsons Library, Boise State University.
This page last modified:
01/20/07 04:30 PM
http://library.boisestate.edu/reference/bbrin/webevaluation.htm
