The curse and the wonder of the World Wide Web are one and the same
- the provision of a forum in which anyone can share information whether it is fact, opinion or
commentary. It allows for an openness not as easily provided in the traditional world of
publishing. The websites, however, are not monitored by any one "authority" which increases the
work you have to do when evaluating the information. Here are some things to look for in a home
page that may help you to evaluate its "worthiness."
Authority:
The website's sponsor should be displayed prominently on the home page along with a phone
number or postal address (not just an e-mail address). Look for some indication of the author's
qualifications. A description of the organizational purpose should be linked in some way to the
information page. You should be able to navigate easily from any part of the website back to the
home page.
Source:
One clue to the source for the material on the website is the
domain name
. The domain name is part of the
URL
(uniform resource locator). Below is a list of the most common domain names. Compare the
different perspectives on substance abuse based on the domain name.
Accuracy:
The factual information should be referenced so that you can verify the accuracy. Errors in
grammar and spelling may indicate poor quality control.
Objectivity:
Realize that information provided in pages that include advertising may have a different bias
and intent than those offered as a public service. Also remember that information presented by
organizations or nonprofit groups will reflect their viewpoint on a particular issue.
Currency:
Look for indications of when the page was written and when the page was revised. Look for
signs of currency (tables, statistics) indicating that the site is regularly maintained.
Coverage:
If there is a print equivalent to the web page, try to determine whether the entire work or
only a portion of it is available on the web.
Other Resources: For a more thorough explanation of web page evaluation, check out
these sites:
Evaluate Web Pages
Produced by the Wolfgram Memorial Library, Widener University. (Listed September 1,
2004.)
Finding Information on the Internet: A Tutorial
Produced by the Teaching Library of the University of California, Berkeley. (Listed September
1, 2004.)
Evaluating Information Found on the Internet
Prepared by Elizabeth E. Kirk and produced by the Sheridan Libraries, Johns Hopkins
University. (Listed September 1, 2004.)
Web Site Evaluation Checklist
Produced by Lucy Scribner Library, Skidmore College. (Listed August 17, 2007.)
