Evaluate Information on the Web

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Unlike the library's collection of online databases (for example, Expanded Academic, PsycInfo), information retrieved using search engines (such as, GOOGLE or ALTAVISTA) has not been evaluated and/or organized by librarians, or humans for that matter. If you are using a Web page as a possible research citation apply the following criteria to determine the quality of your source:

ACCURACY: Anyone can publish information on the Web. There are no standards to ensure accuracy. Unlike print resources, web resources are rarely peer-reviewed or edited.

Things to consider:

  • Is the information reliable?
  • Are facts or statistics backed up by citations or a bibliography?
  • Is there someone, besides the author, who verifies the information

AUTHORITY: It is often difficult to determine who the author or sponsor of a Web page is, much less their credentials or qualifications. Authorship and/or subject expertise may affect the impact, significance, and/or quality of the information.

What to look for:

  • Is the author identified? If so, are his/her credentials/qualifications listed?
  • Does the Webpage have a sponsor? If so, is the sponsor reputable?
  • Does the Webpage provide information about the author or the sponsor?
  • Does the URL contain a .edu, .gov domain, for example, http://library.ucsc.edu.

OBJECTIVITY: It is important to determine the goals of the Webpage; check to see if these are clearly stated in a mission statement, or information about the page. Is the page intended to inform, explain, or persuade?

Questions to ask yourself / What to look for:

  • Is the information biased or is the author presenting more than one side of the argument?
  • Is the page designed to sway opinion? Is the purpose of the page clearly identified?
  • Is there a sponsor or advertising on the page? If so, does this color the information?

CURRENCY: The effectiveness of a Web pages can sometime be lessened if it becomes out-of-date. If the Web page relies on information such as hyperlinks, directory, or timely information, etc. it should be updated and revised as the information changes.

What to look for:

  • Are dates provided for:
    • When the information was written? If so, Is the information on the page outdated?
    • When the page was last modified or updated?
  • Are the links (if any) up-to-date?

COVERAGE: Web resources are often presented in a different context than print resources, making it difficult to determine the extent of coverage.

Things to consider:

  • What topics are covered?
  • How in-depth does the information go?
  • Does the page offer information not found elsewhere?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Everhart, Nancy. Web Page Evaluation Worksheet: 1996. http://www.duke.edu/~de1/evaluate.html

Beck, Susan. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: or, Why It’s a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources. 1997. http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/eval.html