Evaluating Web Sites for Quality
The ABC's:
Accuracy:
- Does the Internet resource have an identified comparable print
or CD ROM data set or source?
- Is the content should be verifiable and replicable.
- Has the site been reviewed in professional or scholarly sources?
- Remember that nearly any one can publish on the Web.
Bias:
- Do you want biased, slanted information or objective, balanced information?
- From what domain does the site derive? .edu, .org, and
.gov sites are (generally) reliable; .net and .com sites may
require more scrutiny. Is it clear who is sponsoring the site? Is
it an advertisement or propaganda?
Content:
- Do you want content or a list of more sites?
- What is the author's rationale for the creation of the site? The content should add to the existing body of knowledge in a
unique way.
- Is the content "popular" or "scholarly"?
- Is the site meant to be comprehensive or cursory in scope?
- Do the site's graphics and sounds add to the value of the
site? Are there spelling or grammar errors?
Documentation:
- Is there a bibliography or sources cited listing on the site?
Are they full enough to allow you to access the cited source in
print or electronically?
- Does the author display knowledge of theories, schools of
thought, or techniques usually considered appropriate in the
treatment of his/her topic?
Editorial Control:
- Who is the author or source of the site? Are their credentials
listed on the site? Are they well-known in the field?
- What is the authority or expertise of the individual or group
who created the site?
- Information should be present to contact the author of a site.
Is it there?
- Is the site current? Is there a date of creation or most
recent modification? Do all the links work properly?
Gut Feeling:
See Also:
Please send questions or comments on this research guide to
Val Harper, Reference Librarian, University of New Hampshire
vlh@cisunix.unh.edu
(vlh@cisunix.unh.edu)
Last revised 9 October 2006