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Evaluate: Web Pages
Review these criteria to determine the relevancy of information found on the Internet.
First Criterion - ACCURACY
- how reliable and free from error is the information?
- almost anyone can publish on the web
- many web resources are not verified by editors or fact-checkers
- web standards to ensure accuracy are still under development
Second Criterion - AUTHORITY
- what are the author’s qualifications for writing on this subject?
- how reputable is the publisher or organization?
- it is sometimes difficult to determine authorship of a web resource
- the author’s qualifications/background are often not listed
Third Criterion - OBJECTIVITY
- is the information presented with a minimum of bias?
- to what extent is the information trying to sway the opinion of the audience?
- the web often serves as a “virtual soapbox” for personal opinions
- the goals or aims of persons or groups presenting information are often not clearly stated
Fourth Criterion - CURRENCY
- is the content of the work up-to-date?
- is the publication date clearly labeled?
- dates are not always included on web pages, or the meaning of the date is unclear
(is it the date the information was first written, first posted, or last updated?)
Fifth Criterion - COVERAGE
- what topics are included on the site?
- are the topics explored in detail or depth?
- web coverage may differ significantly from a similar print resource
- it is often hard to determine the extent of web coverage
Some additional concerns -
- many web pages blend information, entertainment and advertising
(it can be difficult to tell the difference)
- some web sites are purely marketing tools
- many web pages are unstable and will disappear
- software requirements may limit access
- the danger of altering the content of web pages by unknown parties
(drawn from the work of Jan Alexander and Marsha Tate, Reference Librarians at Widener
University, Chester, PA)
Signs of authority -
The top-level domain part of a web site’s address can tell a lot about the
legitimacy of the site
.edu - linked to an educational institution
(though this also includes individual student web pages!)
.org - non-profit organizations or associations
.gov - a governmental department or agency, or government officials
.com - a commercial site, online service, or a for-profit organization
.mil - U.S. military organizations
.int- international organizations
.net - networking organizations
- look for citations, or some form of verification for the information presented on a web site
- the name and address of an author of a web site is reassuring, though this does not necessarily
guarantee authority or legitimacy
- many web sites have been reviewed by established sources (both print and electronic); ask a
librarian to help locate a review
Citing web resources, or other electronic products -
Two good sources to find guidelines for a variety of web sites and materials is
The Columbia Guide to Online Style (1998)
Ref Desk PN 171 .F56 W35 1998
Electronic Styles: A Handbook for Citing Electronic
Information, by Xia Li and Nancy B. Crane (1996)
Ref Desk PN 171 .F56L5 1996
- also, check here for tips on how to cite web sources
- many web sites also contain citation guidelines
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