Information Literacy Learning Guides

Key Concepts           Evaluating Internet Resources

Evaluating Web Pages What to look for:

1. Accuracy & Coverage

  • Who wrote the page and can you contact
    him or her?
  • What is the purpose of the document and
    why was it produced?
  • Is this person qualified to write this
    document?

 

  • Look at the top and bottom of the page. Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact
    address/phone number.
  • Know the difference between author and
    Webmaster.

2. Authority

  • Who published the document and is it
    separate from the "Webmaster?"
  • Check the domain of the document, what
    institution publishes this document?
  • Does the publisher list his or her
    qualifications?
  • Where is the document published? First thing - check URL domain.
  • What credentials are listed for the author(s)?

2. Objectivity

  • What goals/objectives does this page
    meet?
  • Are they tring to sell you, educate you or provide objective information?
  • How detailed is the information?
  • What opinions (if any) are expressed by
    the author? Is there a 'bias'?

 

  • Determine if page is a mask for advertising; if so the information might be biased. Is it a .com or a .org, for example?
  • View any Web page as you would an
    infommercial on television. Ask yourself why wasthis written and for whom?

2. Currency

  • When was it produced?
  • When was it updated or 'last revised'?
  • How up-to-date are the links (if any)? Are there any broken links?

 

  • How many dead links are on the page?
  • Are the links current or updated regularly?
  • Is the information on the page outdated?


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 Last Updated: 8/2/04