EVALUATION
OF RESOURCES ON THE WEB
It is a common
misconception that information found on the Web is always correct and that
Web-based information is always better than that found in books. Regardless of the
resource used (printed, electronic, or otherwise), critical evaluation is
always a necessary part of academic research. The five criteria for basic
evaluation of information in any format are accuracy, authority,
objectivity, currency, and coverage.
|
Evaluation of Web Documents |
How to Interpret the Basics |
|
1. Accuracy of Web Documents Who wrote the page and can you contact them? What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced? Is the author qualified to write this document? |
Accuracy Make sure the author provides e-mail or a 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 it? 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 and objectives does this page meet? How detailed is the information? What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author? |
Objectivity Determine if the page is a mask for advertising - if so, the page might be biased. View any Web page as you would a TV infomercial. Ask yourself, "Why was this written, and for whom?" |
|
4. Currency of Web Documents When was it produced? When was it updated? How current are the links? |
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 Is the information on the page outdated?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 Web Documents Is the information cited correctly? Are the links (if any) evaluated? Is it all images, or a balance of text and images? |
Coverage If the page requires special software for viewing, how much are you missing if you don't have the software? Is it free, or is there a fee to obtain the information? |
SUMMARY
Accuracy - If your page lists the author and institution that published
the page and provides a point of contact;
Authority - If your page lists the author credentials and its
domain (.edu, .gov, .org, .net);
Objectivity - If your page provides accurate information with
limited advertising and it is objective in presenting information;
Currency - If your page is current and updated regularly, and
the links are up to date;
Coverage
- If you can view the
information properly, not limited to fees or software requirements, then...
You may
have a higher quality Web page that could be of value to your research.
Compiled by Dr. Susan Patrick, UNM Fine Arts College;
based on: Jim
Kapoun, "Teaching Web Evaluation," College & Research
Libraries News, July/August 1998:522-523.
