Elders
Evaluating Web Resources
Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources
The World Wide Web has a lot to offer, but not all sources are equally valuable or reliable. Here are some points to consider.
Content and Evaluation
- Who is the audience?
- What is the purpose of the Web Page and what does it contain? How complete and accurate are the information and the links provided?
- What is the relative value of the Web site in comparison to the range of information resources available on this topic?
- What other resources (print and non-print) are available in this area?
- What are the date(s) of coverage of the site and site-specific documents?
- How comprehensive is this site?
- Are the links relevant and appropriate for the site?
- Are the links evaluated in any way?
- How valuable is the information provided in the Web Page (intrinsic value)?
For discipline-based sites...
- Does the site claim to represent a group, an organization, an institution, a corporation or a governmental body?
- Does the site offer a selected list of resources in a particular discipline or field or does it claim to offer a complete list?
- Does the site claim to describe or provide the results of research or scholarly effort:
- What other resources (print and non-print) are available in this area?
- Are sufficient references provided to other works, to document hypotheses, claims or assertions?
- Are references cited fully?
- Can the results be refuted or verified through other means, e.g., by use of library-related research tools?
- Is any sort of third-party financial or other support or sponsorship evident
- Is advertising included at the site, and if so, has it had an impact on the content?
Source and Date
- Who is the author or sponsor?
- What is the authority or expertise of the individual or group that created this site: is the site sponsored or co-sponsored by an individual or group that has created other Web sites; is the site officially or unofficially sponsored or supported by particular groups, organizations, institutions, corporations or governmental bodies; can the researchers, scholars, groups, organizations, institutions, corporations or governmental bodies listed as authors, sponsors or supporters, be verified as such, and what are their qualifications?
- Is any sort of bias evident?
- When was the Web item last revised?
- How up to date are the links?
- How reliable are the links?
- Is contact information for the author or sponsor provided?
Structure
- Does the document follow good graphic design principles?
- Is there an element of creativity, and does it add to or detract from the document itself?
- Is attention paid to the needs of the disabled, e.g., large print and graphics options; audio; alternative text for graphics; text only; non-frames and non-tables views of this site? How usable is the site?
- Can visitors get the information they need within a reasonable number of links (preferably 3 or fewer clicks)?
Other
- Are there links to search engines or is a search engine attached to (embedded in) the Web site?
Created by Esther Grassian, the UCLA Library, June 1995, and used with permission.