Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages

Accuracy

Authority

Objectivity

Currency

Coverage

Evaluation of Web documents

How to interpret the basics

1.  Accuracy of Web documents

• Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her?
• What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced?
• Is this person qualified to write this document?

Accuracy

• Make sure author provides e-mail or contact address/phone number.
• Know the distinction between author and webmaster.

2.   Authority of Web documents

• Who published the document and is it separate from the "Webmaster"?
• Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes the document?
• Does the publisher list his or her qualifications?

Authority

• What credentials are listed for the author(s)?
• Where is the document published? Check URL domain.

3.  Objectivity of Web documents

• What goals/objectives does this page meet?
• How detailed is the information?
• What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author?

Objectivity

• Determine if page is a mask for advertising:  if so, information might be biased.
• View any Web page as you would an infomercial on television.  Ask yourself why was this written and for whom?

4.  Currency of Web documents

• When was it produced?
• When was it updated?
• How up-to-date are the links (if any?)

Currency

• How many dead links are on the page?
• Are the links current or updated regularly?
• Is the information on the page outdated?

5.  Coverage of the Web documents

• Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the documents' theme?
• Is it all images or a balance of text and images?
• Is the information presented cited correctly?

Coverage

• If page requires special software to view the information, how much are you missing if you don't have the software?
• Is it free, or is there a fee, to obtain the information?
• Is there an option for text only, or frames or a suggested browser for better viewing?