Evaluating Web SitesEvaluating Web Sites

BTTMr. Garel

Evaluating Web SitesEvaluating Web Sites

not all information found on the World Wide Web is accurate and not all web sites, no

matter how attractive, are good.

Evaluating a web site is

an important activity because …

It’s …It’s … AAll ll AAboutbout OOngoingngoing CCriticalritical CConcernoncern

AAOCC …

AccuracyAuthorityObjectivityCurrencyCoverage

AccuracyAccuracy

Who wrote the page?Can you contact the author / webmaster?What is the purpose of the document?Is the person qualified to write this

document?

AccuracyAccuracy

Check for: e-mail address postal address or phone number

Know the difference: Author v.s. Webmaster

AuthorityAuthority

What are the author’s credentials?Where is the document published?Is there institutional affiliation?Check the URL domain for clues:

– .edu, .org, .gov, .mil more reliable– .com, .ca, .on, .au, .uk, etc. less reliable! Example: http://tqjunior.www.thinkquest.org/4471

http://www.nasa.gov/spaceflight

ObjectivityObjectivityWhat are the goals of the web site?

… to persuade

… to inform

… to entertain

… to sell

Are the goals met?

ObjectivityObjectivity

How detailed is the information?– too simple, just right, too complex?

What opinions are expressed?

Is the information free of bias?

Does the site promote advertising?

CurrencyCurrencyWhen was it produced?

– Look for copyright © information

When was the site last updated?

Do all the links function?

Is the information on the page outdated?

CoverageCoverage

Is there a balance of text and images?

Do the links complement the web site’s theme?

Is the information cited correctly?

CoverageCoverage

Is special software required to browse the web site?

Is there a cost to view the information?

Is the site organized well?

In Summary:In Summary:

If the site:lists the author and institution that

published the web page(s)provides a way to contact the authorlists the author’s credentialshas a preferred domain

(.edu, .gov, .org, .net)

In Summary:In Summary:

has limited advertisingis objective (unbiased) in

presenting informationIs current and is updated regularly

provides accurate information

In Summary:In Summary:

Can be viewed without limitations

Then your information source is most likely a reliable and valid one for your research.

Has operational and relevant links

Remember …Remember …

A A O C C

It’s All About Ongoing

Critical Concern.