1. Evaluating Internet Resources
QUESTION AUTHORITY
Evaluating Internet Resources

2. You need information… about a place you want to visit
how to get a driver’s license
which candidate to vote for
what kind of job you want and how to get it
who invented ice cream?
You need information…
the best car for the money
for a research project
what to feed your new pet
how to fix something
about a disease afflicting someone in your family

3. When you pick up a book in the library, you know:
An expert author was chosen by a reputable publisher
an editor checked facts and improved the writing
a reviewer evaluated/recommended it
a librarian determined it a worthy and appropriate resource…

4. But when you visit a web site, you must do the work of all those experts to decide whether to use the information

5. You won’t always have a parent or a teacher or a librarian to tell you whether a site is good. You must learn how to use your judgment.

6. What makes a web site good?

7. Accuracy

8. Information matches the facts in other sources No factual errors, grammar mistakes or typos Sources are cited
Evaluate a site

9. Authority

10. Author is identified & contact info given Author is an expert Reputable organization/sponsor Writing style & tone match the material
Evaluate a site

11. Break down URL for clues:
protocol://hostorganization.domain/filepath/code
Erase from the right to get to host
Domain isn’t always reliable

12. Bias

13. Purpose of site or audience is clear: inform/entertain/advocate/ change opinion/promote/sell Minimum of pop-ups & ads Fact vs. opinion
Evaluate a site

14. Currency

15. Information is recent & frequently updated Includes new (unique) information Internal & external links are working
Evaluate a site

16. Coverage

17. Topic is covered in detail Information is not missing Too much vs
Topic is covered in detail Information is not missing Too much vs. not enough information
Evaluate a site

18. Relevance

19. Information answers your questions Format is useful Reading level is appropriate Intended audience matches your purpose
Evaluate a site

20. Sources:
Beck, Susan. “The Good, the bad & the ugly: Or, why it’s a good idea to evaluate web sources.”
Engle, Michael. “Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools.”
Finkle, Dagmar. NJASL Conference Web Evaluation Presentation
UC Berkeley Library. “Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask.”
Presentation created by Leigh Woznick, last updated 12/2011.