Lesson 2

Evaluating Page Authority

Can You Trust Information You Find on the Internet?Lack of quality control is one of the drawbacks of the Internet. This means that anyone who has a computer connected to the Internet and wants to make his/her information or opinion available can "publish" on the Web. Because there are no restrictions, guidelines, or review processes for contributions to the Web, the quality, accuracy, validity, and authority of the contributed information varies wildly.

Not all web sites are equally valuable or credible.

Apply your critical thinking skills to judge usefulness, validity and reliability of the information you uncover. The following criteria are a set of questions and/or principles that act as a benchmark to evaluate information.

1. Coverage- is it appropriate for your topic?
Relevant Do the topics covered include your topic? Does the page cover a variety of (too many) topics or is it focused on one relevant topic? Adequate Does the page information adequately cover your topic: is it too general or too detailed? Audience appropriate Is the content intended for children, scholars, general public? Was the page written to inform, educate, entertain (parody). Primary or secondary account (original or regurgitated?) Does the page offer original (primary) information not covered elsewhere? Is this page a synthesis of other people's (secondary) accounts / writings? Is this the best page to cite, or does another page contain/summarize this information and present it in a better way?
2. Authority with regard to the topic - who is responsible     for the site?
Author of site Is there an author named on the page? Is the author qualified? If not, then . . . Sponsor of site Is there a sponsor? Is the sponsor qualified? (i.e. Is there an "about us" or "our mission" link?) If not, then . . . Link or contact Information Is the author or sponsor's name, e-mail, postal address listed? If not, then . . . Clues to page's origin Is there any other way to determine the page's author(s)? (header, footer, URL or domain name?) Is the URL associated with a university or reputable organization? Does the domain name indicate .edu=educational institution; .org=non-profit organization; .gov=governmental body?(Useful for determining origin only. Reputable information can also be found on: .com=commercial enterprise; .net=Internet )
3. Objectivity - is the purpose of the site clear, including   any particular viewpoint?
Bias Does the page/site show minimal signs of bias: political, ideological, personal, or cultural? Intent Does the page present factual information or is it designed to sway opinion? Influence If the site is sponsored or underwritten by advertising, is the writing free of bias supporting the sponsor?
4. Accuracy - is the information accurate?
Factual Does the author give factual information? Documented / well-researched Does the author cite his/her sources? Is the research methodology explained? Subject to verification Can the information be verified by additional resources in print on on the Web? Corroborated Are links and resource citations included (possibly using MLA citation format.) Collaborative Is a committee or editor named who reviews the content or verifies facts.
5. Currency - is the information current?
Date-stamped Is there a "last updated" notation or evidence of recent changes? If not, then . . . Seemingly current Does the information seem current to you? Do news events, conference events or any bits information lead you to believe the page has been updated recently? If not, then . . . Linked currently Are the links still working? Do pages turn up with "this site has moved" or "page not found"?

Evaluation Criteria Form - Form download  
The above form can be used to evaluate web sites when doing research.

Form Adapted from:
Kent State University Libraries. "Website Evaluation Form." Kent State University. [30 April 2002] http://www.library.kent.edu/internet/evalform.html
Beck, Susan.  "Evaluation Criteria."   The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: or, Why It’s a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources.  1997.  http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html

Website Evaluation Examples 

Take a moment to look at the examples found on this website:

Beck, Susan.  "Evaluation Criteria."   The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: or, Why It’s a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources.  1997.  http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html

Assignment   

 Continue!   

Resources:

1. Brenner, Eric. "Evaluating Sources". LSCI100: Introduction to Informational Research http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/skylib/evaluate.html
2. Karas, Tim. "Evaluation Criteria" LIBR 105: Online Research. Skills College of San Mateo. http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/karas/evcriteria.html

Other Evaluation Forms

Sample evaluations forms can be found on these university web pages:

1. Barker, Joe. "Web Page Evaluation Worksheet. UC-Berkeley Teaching Library." http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/EvalForm.pdf [26 Feb 2002]
2. Universities Libraries at Virginia Tech, "Bibliography on Evaluating Web Information"http://www.lib.vt.edu/research/evaluate/evalbiblio.html#forms [14 Aug 2002]
3. UTSA Library Classes "Untangling the Web." (Evaluation Form) http://www.lib.utsa.edu/Instruction/web/webeval.html [6 June 2001]
4. Pace University, "Web Page Evaluation Worksheet." http://www.pace.edu/library/instruct/webevalworksheet.htm [May 2002]
5. J. Alexander & M. Tate. "Evaluating Web Resources." July 1996 http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/webevaluation/webeval.htm [ 25 July, 2001]

Centers for Teaching and Learning, San Mateo Community College District, CA USA    Updated  8/28/2008  by Sevastopoulos