WEBSITE EVALUATION Deciding if this is the correct website for your research

5 Traditional Evaluation Criteria n Accuracy n Authority n Objectivity n Currency n Coverage

TYPES OF SITES n.comcommercial n.netprivate network n.orgnon-profit n.govU.S. government n.educolleges and universities

ACCURACY n How reliable and free from error is the information? n Are there editors and fact finders? n Many Web resources are not verified by editors and/or fact checkers n Web standards to ensure accuracy are not fully developed. n Almost anyone can publish on the Web

AUTHORITY n What are the authors qualifications for writing on the subject? n How reputable is the publisher? n If the authors name is listed, are his/her qualifications listed?

OBJECTIVITY n Is the information presented with a minimum of bias? n To what extent is the information trying to sway the opinion of the audience? n Web often functions as a virtual soapbox n Goals and aims of persons or groups presenting material often not clearly stated

CURRENCY n Is the content of the work up-to-date? n Is the publication date clearly indicated?

COVERAGE n What topics are included in the work? n To what depth are topics explored?

ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES n Marketing-oriented Web Pages n Blending of Entertainment, Information, and Advertising n Software requirements may limit access n Instability of Web Pages n Susceptibility of Web Pages to alteration

ULTIMATE CHALLENGE n Applying this knowledge when using the Web as a research tool

WEB PAGE EVALUATION PROCEDURE n Step 1-- Identify type of page n Step 2-- Use appropriate checklist n Step 3-- Based on checklist criteria, determine relative quality of page

IDENTIFY TYPE OF PAGE n advocacy n business/marketing n informational n news n personal n entertainment

USE OF APPROPRIATE CHECKLIST –Answer questions yes or no

DETERMINE RELATIVE QUALITY OF PAGE n The greater the number of checklist questions answered yes, the more likely the page is of higher informational quality

Information obtained from www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/webevaluation/ webeval.htm