Because anyone can create content on the web, it is important to know how to evaluate a website for authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency and coverage. Below are some tips to help you evaluate websites.
Authority
- Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her?
- What credentials are listed for the authors?
- Are they an expert?
- Where is the document published? Check URL (.edu, .org, .gov, .mil, .com, etc).
Accuracy
- Can the information be verified in other sources?
- What sort of information is it - facts, opinion, conjecture?
- Is there an e-mail or a contact address/phone number for the author?
Objectivity
- What are the author's goals?
- Is there a slant or bias?
- What is the purpose?
- View any Web page as you would an infomercial.
- Ask yourself: why was this written and for whom?
Currency
- When was it produced?
- When was it updated and is the information out of date?
- How up-to-date are the links?
- Are the links current or updated regularly?
- Are there a lot of dead links?
Coverage
- Are the links (if any) evaluated and related to the theme?
- How detailed is the information?
- Is it a balance of text and images?
- Are there links to the 'other side' of the debate?
