Evaluating Internet Sources
It is very important, when researching sources online, that we evaluate those resources critically. Students are encouraged to adopt an attitude of healthy skepticism when visiting sites. The following criteria should be employed for website evaluation.
Accuracy
Authority
Objectivity
Currency
Scope
Accuracy
Is the information reliable and of academic quality?
- Does the author cite specific sources?
- Are the sources reliable? (Check the authority of the source.)
- Check any source links to verify that they are quality sources.
- Can the information be verified?
- Is the information on the site well written? Are there grammatical errors, or spelling errors?
- Are there editors or reviewers?
Authority
Who is responsible for the information and/or the website?
- What is their authority?
- Are their names and credentials and/or institutional affiliations included?
- What is the domain name? Domain names like .edu, .gov, .uk, .org, etc. can help to determine what kind of organization they are and what their purpose is.
- Is the information being pulled from or associated with social media or similar websites? If so the qualifications of the source should be checked closely.
- Check the ‘About Us’, or ‘Contact’ information.
Objectivity
Is the information presented without clear bias?
- Is the information factual?
- Check any sources that are cited.
- Who is the intended audience?
- Are there clear political or religious stances on issues?
- What is the purpose of the site?
- Is there sponsorship or advertising?
Currency
Is the information current?
- How old is the information?
- Is the page date marked?
- When was the page last updated?
- Is the topic you are researching an area that needs the information to be up to date?
Scope
How well is the subject covered?
- What information is presented?
- How much detail is there?
- What kind of site is this? Business, government, academic ?
- Be wary of sites that ask you to pay for additional information.
Starting a Search in the Databases Page.
