Evaluating Web Resources

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Evaluating Web sites takes some practice. Fortunately, there are numerous guides online that can offer advice about how to judge information that you find on the Web. To help you to understand better the issues involved in evaluating Web sites, we've sketched out some general concerns here. You can explore these issues in more depth by following the links at the bottom of this page.

When evaluating Web information consider these general pointers

• Investigate the affiliations of the author who has posted the information or the Web site where it was found. You can begin to get a sense for affiliation by looking at the URL of the page itself. The domain associated with the Web URL can sometimes indicate something about the sponsor or author. For instance, your reading of a web page associated with the domain (www.greenpeace.org) may be different than your reading of a similar page associated with the domain (www.coal.com).

The most common types of Web domains are

.com = commercial site

.edu = higher education site

.au, .uk, .ca, etc. = site hosted in country indicated by domain (e.g. au = Australia, uk =United Kingdon, ca = Canada)

.k-12.us = kindergarten through twelfth grade public school site

.org = organizational site

.gov = government site

.mil = military site

For more information see A beginner's Guide to URLs.

Always consider where the information you come across on the Web originates. Still, don't simply let the Web address determine how you assess information. Instead, use it as a way of focusing your attention as you evaluate Web sites. Be aware that many URLs ending with .com may represent businesses that provide Web space for any number of individuals or organizations. You'll still need to look carefully at each individual item as you evaluate its value.

• Another strategy, then, is to look at Web resources in terms of the major categories that make up online information. For instance, one Web site might contain a collection of scholarly articles, while another might consist of product information. You'll need to approach these different types of materials flexibly so that you can best judge how each might be used in your work. You might approach a Web article in familiar ways, looking at the author's argument, evidence, fair-mindedness, or use of sources. You might bring more skepticism to statistics found on a product information Web site or to statements offered on someone's personal Web page. The key is to focus attention on the kind of material you are evaluating and to make judgments accordingly. A site might be slick or sparse, but keeping categories of information in mind will help you to close read whatever you come across.

• Also approach Web sites in light of your own views or research. Consider the ways in which the materials that you find bring new meaning to familiar knowledge. Working from what you already understand about a problem or topic, investigate Web materials, looking for ways that information supports or challenges your understanding. Be sure to conduct library research as well and to use it to provide a lens for viewing what you come across on the Web. Think about comparisons you can make between traditional and Web-based materials. Does the information that you find online do as good a job of supporting its claims? How will using it as evidence in your own work be complicated by its online status?

There is no magic formula for evaluating Web sites. If you think about the affiliations and agendas behind Web information, the categories of information you are assessing including the particular strengths and expectations of different types of online information, and the ways that Web resources generally support or question what you believe, you'll be prepared to perform the close examinations necessary to make judicious use of Web resources.

For more information, you can tap into the resources below.

A Student's Guide To Research with the WWW

A thorough guide that blends advice about conducting online research with information about source evaluation.

Evaluating Web Resources

This comprehensive guide provides categories of evaluation for Web sites, a bibliography and links to resources.

The Good The Bad and The Ugly

Approaches Web Site evaluation by suggesting a number of criteria including accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency and coverage.

WWW Virtual Library's Guide to Construction of Quality Online Resources

The World Wide Web Virtual Library's clearinghouse page for evaluation includes a searchable collection of resources.

Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools

This site provides information and strategies for assessing Web information using context as a way of approaching materials.

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