Research Help (Big 6)  » Evaluation of Internet Site

Evaluation of Internet Site

Instructions

Use the questions on this page to help you decide
whether or not a Web site is reliable.
If several answers are No, the site probably should not be used.

Authority

· Is information about the author available?

· Is the author knowledgeable in the filed?

· Is background information about the author available?

· Is there an address, phone number, or email address?

· Is there a way to verify the legitimacy of the page’s sponsor?

· Is the sponsoring organization recognized in the field you are studying?

URL :  a.     .org     non-profit organization
b.     .com    company
c.     .net network
d.     .gov    government
e.     .mil     military
f.      .edu    education

If there is a tilde (~) in the address, it often means it is a personal account, and might not be written by an expert.

Timeliness

· Is the copyright date given?

· Has the site been updated recently?

· When was the material gathered?

Purpose

· What is the intent of the content?

· Does there seem to be a hidden agenda or bias?

· From what point of view is the material written?

· Is there advertising on the page?

Accuracy

· Is the topic coverage comprehensive?

· Is the information given factual, detailed, and exact?

· Is the author’s presentation objective?

· Can information be corroborated with other sources?

Usability

· Is it easy to read?

· Is it organized for ease of use?

· Are helps available, such as indexes, links to additional material, etc.?

· Are there appropriate photographs or graphics?