Evaluating Information
Evaluating Webpages: Trash and Treasure
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Evaluating Information
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Evaluating Webpages: Trash and Treasure
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NOTE: This section deals with evaluating pages you find by searching the Web. For criteria for evaluating articles you find using the library's databases, see another section of this OWL.
Why should I take the time to evaluate information I find on the Web?
Because you can't be sure that anyone else is doing it. One of the great things about the Web is that so many different people can contribute to it. But that can also be a problem when you are trying to find accurate, current, objective information suitable for your research project. There is no organization or individual taking overall responsibility for the quality of information on the Web. The Web has been compared to a flea market; there are some real treasures in it, but there's a lot of junk, too. You must recognize the difference and sift out the useful material.
How can I do that?
You need to ask the same questions that you ask about other information sources: Who are these people? Why should I trust that what they've posted is accurate and unbiased? How up to date is this information? Who is the intended audience for this site? What is its purpose? Is this material at the level I need for my research?
How can I answer these questions?
Check the URL:
.gov is for a government agency. These sites have quality control.
.edu is for an educational institution These sites are usually reliable, although educational sites may include personal pages of varying quality.
.org is for non-profit organizations. With these sites, consider purpose.
.net is for networks. These sites can be about anything. Look to other information to help you evaluate them.
.com means a commercial site. Consider the purpose of the site.
~ means a personal page. The person could be an expert but maybe not. Try to get more information about the creator of the page.
Look for the name of the author or sponsor of the site:
If no person or group is named as responsible for the site, or no information is given about the site's creators, why do you think that is? What does it say about the reliability of the information at that site? Try the suggestions in Practical Steps in Evaluating Internet Resources from Johns Hopkins University for finding out more about a Website's authors or sponsors.
To find the site's purpose and intended audience:
Look for an "about us" link, and FAQ (frequently asked questions file), or something similar, preferably on the homepage. Read it. Examine the site, read or skim the information. Does the material presented seem to you to support the stated purpose?
If a statement isn't present, can you identify a purpose? Some possibilities are
- advocacy, seeking to influence public opinion
- commercial, seeking to promote a company or product
- hoax, seeking to mislead (possibly with humorous intent)
- informative, seeking to provide information
- humor, seeking to share jokes, parodies, etc.
- personal, seeking to promote a personal interest
- propaganda, seeking to promote an extremist position
What do you think the purpose is? Does the purpose have any implications for accuracy, bias, or lack of objectivity in the information presented?
Check for currency:
Is there an indication, preferably on the homepage, of when the site was last updated? Or how often it is updated? Sites don't always get taken down when they are no longer being maintained.
As a last resort:
Is there an email link to the creator or sponsor of the site? They might be willing to answer questions about the site. Treat their answers with caution, though, if you can't verify what they tell you by other means.
Where can I find out more about evaluating Internet sources?
Here are links to a few outstanding sites with more information:
