Information & Research Support

 

It must be true, I got if off the Web

Not many people would really say that but we all wonder sometimes how to tell what is worthwhile in Web resources.

It's easy to tell the difference in value between junk mail and a scholarly journal.

It's not so easy to assess different Web sources. Anyone can publish a Web site -- and they can say anything they like on it.

Here are some criteria for judging the quality of information found on the Web:

Authority

  • Are the persons responsible for the page clearly identified?
  • Is the author an expert in their field -- and is there verifiable information about the author's credentials?
  • Does the page provide a way to contact the author or organisation?
  • Is the web page linked to a Government department, an educational institution, a non-profit institution, a professional organisation, a commercial organisation or an individual?
  • Is there an "about us" page which tells you who runs the site and what its purpose is?
  • Can you easily get to the main page?
The answers to these questions, and the difficulty you have in answering them, will tell you how much weight to give to the information on a particular Web site.

Accuracy

  • Do the facts fit with what you already know?
  • Does the information contradict itself?
  • Is the information complete or are there obvious gaps?
  • Do the facts provided seem too good to be true?
  • Does the web page provide cited references for its information -- and can these be verified?
The need to cross check various sources of information and find their origins applies equally to electronic and print sources.

Objectivity

  • What is the purpose of the web page -- is it trying to tell you something or sell you something?
  • Does it make dramatic claims or reasonable statements?
  • Does the source provide a balanced viewpoint, or just one side of a case?
  • Do you know whether the author or publisher has a bias?
  • Is it clear whether the content comes from a non-commercial source or an advertiser?
Biased data may still be useful as long as you recognise the bias. You may need to look for sites with other biases to get a balanced picture.

Currency

  • Is a date provided for when the web page or document was created and last updated?
  • Is it current and up-to-date? Does it need to be?
  • Check the links - if a lot are broken, the site may not be kept up-to-date.

Utility

  • Is the data what you really need?
  • Is it relevant to your information search?
  • Is this the best way to get the information you need?
  • Have you tried printed and electronic sources available via the Library catalogue and databases?

Presentation

  • Is the site easy to use and navigate?
  • Is the site well designed and easy to read?
  • Is the material free from spelling and grammar mistakes?
  • Are the illustrations helpful or distracting?
  • Are advertisements clearly separated from text?

 

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Please contact Helen Hooper if you have any comments, suggestions or additions.

Updated August 2004 by Ward Saylor and Helen Hooper,
Information and Research Support, James Cook University.