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Critical Evaluation of Web Sources

The Internet offers a wealth of information at your fingertips. However, publishing on blogs, wikis webpages, etc. is easy, cheap and relatively unregulated and unmonitored. Anyone can publish a webpage or blog. Furthermore, information on the Web can easily be copied and falsified or copied with errors. Unlike print publications, there are generally no editors to proofread these websites to ensure that standards are met. Alongside excellent resources, more dubious websites reside. If the Web is to be used for serious research, it is essential that you critically evaluate all information you find on the Internet.

In addition to the general evaluation criteria, consider the following in your evaluation of Web sources:

A. Authority

• Determine the name of the author who or the organisation which claims accountability and responsibility for the webpage's content.
• Determine the author's credentials on the subject. Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
• Determine the domain of the website. Is it appropriate for the content?
  e.g. .gov for government sites; .edu for educational sites.

B. Accuracy

• Are you able to contact the author of the document to verify details, if necessary? Does the author provide an e-mail or contact address or telephone number?
• Are the links reliable and do they provide support for the information on the webpage?

C. Objectivity and Purpose

• Is the purpose of the document to inform, share, persuade or sell?
• If the document is a mask for advertising, the information may be biased.

D. Content

• Determine the sources of the author's information.
• Is there a good balance of text and graphics?
• Are the links evaluated and do they complement the document's theme?

E. Currency and Maintenance

• When was the document published? What was the date of last revision? Exercise caution if you intend to use undated factual or statistical information.
• Determine if the links are current or updated regularly.

F. Organisation and Searchability

• Are the pages organised in such a way to allow for easy and logical retrieval of information?
• Are you able to view information properly without being limited by special software, browser technology or fees?

Useful websites:

• Evaluating information found on the Internet (Sheridan Libraries, John Hopkins University)
• Evaluating webpages (UC Berkeley Library)

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Last updated 21-11-08