"It must be true, I got if off the Web"
this guide in Word
- 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:
- 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 provided by a Government department, educational institution or professional organisation - or by a commercial organisation or an individual?
- Is there an "about us" page which tells you who runs the site and what its purpose is?
- 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?
- Get a second opinion! Does the information agree with that given by other reliable sources?
- 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?
- 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.
- 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?
- Is the site easy to use and navigate?
- Is the site well designed and easy to read?
- Is the material free from errors in spelling and grammar?
- Are the illustrations helpful or distracting?
- Are advertisements clearly separated from text?
Authority
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
The need to cross check various sources of information and find their origins applies equally to electronic and print sources.
Objectivity
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
Utility
Presentation
Links to other evaluation guides
- Assess the Quality of Information at a Web Site
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Evaluating the Quality of Information on the Internet: Checklist
ERIC Digest with guidelines and a bibliography - Internet
Resource Evaluation UseIt
UQ page which also lists other useful internet sites - Medical / Health resources
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MedlinePlus Guide to Healthy Web Surfing
Information for the layperson on how to evaluate the quality of health information on web sites -
Education Queensland: World Wide Web site criteria
Criteria to consider when evaluating World Wide Web sites for relevancy to the Queensland curriculum - QUICK: The Quality Information Checklist Web site evaluation for children
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Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources
This site also includes an evaluation guide for "Discipline-Based World Wide Web Resources".
If this information is inadequate, incorrect, or can be improved in any way, please let us know