Students often uncritically accept information they see in print or on the internet. Students should be encouraged to carefully evaluate sources found on the Internet. The evaluation tool (below) will help students analyze web resources in terms of accuracy, authority, objectivity, timeliness, and coverage. Consideration of these factors will weed out many of the inaccurate or trivial sites students may encounter while doing online research.
Analyzing web resources
Answer the following questions to evaluate web resources.
- Are sources listed for the facts?
- Can information be verified through another source?
- Has the site been edited for grammar, spelling, etc.?
- Is the publisher reputable?
- Is the sponsorship clear?
- Is a phone number or postal address available?
- Is there a link to the sponsoring organization?
- Is the author qualified to write on this topic?
- Does the sponsor have commercial interests?
- Is advertising included on the page?
- Are there obvious biases?
- Is a publication date indicated?
- Is there a date for the last update?
- Is the topic one that does not change frequently?
- Are the topics covered in depth?
- Does the content appear to be complete?