Evaluating Web Sites

Web sites are of varying quality. It is essential that you evaluate the Web sites you find, assessing them in the same way you would a paper resource. Remember to evaluate Web resources critically. Use the following criteria:

  • Authority: Can the author of the page be readily identified and are his/her qualifications for providing the page clearly stated?

  • Accuracy: Are there any spelling errors? Is the source of factual information clearly documented?

  • Objectivity: Is the information relatively balanced or does it promote a particular viewpoint?

  • Currency: When was the page written or last updated?

  • Coverage: Is the topic explored in depth? Is there considerable content on the page? Are entire articles or items provided or just excerpts from larger works? Does the site point you to other sites?

For more information consult the following useful sites:

Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask by John Kupersmith at the University of California, Berkeley.

Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources by Esther Grassian, UCLA College Library.

Evaluating Internet Research Sources by Robert Harris, Professor of English, Vanguard University of South California.
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