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Evaluating Web Sites
When you come into the Library Media Center, you know that the books on the shelf are all there because they are accurate, reliable, authoritative sources of information. Unfortunately, you don't have this assurance about information found on the Internet. Any given site may be a good source of information for research, and then again it may not. It is up to you to be the evaluator of all Internet sites that you find. Below are some criteria to help you in this evaluation process. Remember, be suspicious! Don't accept all that you find on the Net at face value - question and investigate.
Criteria to Consider When Evaluating Web Sites
1. Who?
· Who wrote the pages, and is he / she an expert?
· Is a biography of the author included?
· How can you find out more about the author?
2. What?
· What does the author say is the purpose of the site?
· What makes the site easy to use?
· What else might the author have in mind for the site?
3. When?
· When was the site created?
· When was the site last updated?
4. Where?
· Where does the information come from?
· Where can I find out more about the topic, product, or sponsor?
5. Why?
· Why is this information useful for my purpose?
· Why is this site better than another?
Also, consider the URL (web address)…
The important part of the URL (or the address) is the domain. It identifies the source of the Internet site and can be an indicator of the probable reliability of the information found there. Below are examples of the different domains found on the net and what they represent.
| .com |
stands for commercial. This means that someone has paid to establish this site. There may be a bias or an agenda behind the information given. A .com domain calls for further investigation. |
| .net |
stands for internet source. This is basically the same as a .com address and the same rules apply. The information may, or may not, be great. You must be the judge. |
| .ac |
stands for college or university. This site could be the work of either a student or a professor. Look for the author's credentials. |
| .edu |
stands for school or university. Again, is the author a student, teacher, or professor? Check the author's qualifications and any research noted in the site. |
| .k12 |
stands for schools. The main question, again, is who is the author, and what are his or her qualifications? |
| .gov |
stands for government. These sites contain information published to the Web by the government and are usually very reliable (that is, if you can trust the government involved). |
| .mil |
stands for military. Again, this is a government sponsored site and the rules above apply. |
| .org |
stands for nonprofit organization. To judge these sites, you need to find out as much as you can about the organization involved. Some organizations are excellent resources and others are biased. |
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