Thinking Critically About Web Sources



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 Evaluating the Web--The World Wide Web has a lot to offer, but not all sources are equally valuable or reliable. Here are some points to consider when you look at a web site:

Content & Evaluation

  • What is the purpose of the Web Page & what does it contain? 

  • How complete and accurate are the information and the links provided? 

  • What is the relative value of the Web site in comparison to the range of information resources available on this topic?
     (Note: Be sure to check with a librarian.) 

  • What other resources (print & non-print) are available in this area? 

  • What are the date(s) of coverage of the site and site-specific documents? 

  • How comprehensive is this site? 

  • What are the link selection criteria if any? 

  • Are the links relevant and appropriate for the site? 

  • Is the site inward-focused, pointing outward, or both? 

  • Is there an appropriate balance between inward-pointing links ("inlinks" i.e., within the same site) & outward-pointing links ("outlinks" i.e., to other sites)? 

  • Are the links comprehensive or do they just provide a sampler? 

  • What do the links offer that is not easily available in other sources? 

  • Are the links evaluated in any way? 

  • Is there an appropriate range of Internet resources -- e.g., links to gophers? 

  • Is multimedia appropriately incorporated? 

  • How valuable is the information provided in the Web Page (intrinsic value)? 

Source and Date

  • Who is the author or producer? 

  • What is the authority or expertise of the individual or group that created this site? 

  • How knowledgeable is the individual or group on the subject matter of the site? 

  • Is the site sponsored or co-sponsored by an individual or group that has created other Web sites? 

  • Is any sort of bias evident?

  •  When was the Web item produced? 

  • When was the Web item mounted? 

  • When was the Web item last revised? 

  • How up to date are the links? 

  • How reliable are the links; are there blind links, or references to sites which have moved?

  •  Is contact information for the author or producer included in the document? 

Structure

  • Does the document follow good graphic design principles? 

  • Do the graphics and art serve a function or are they decorative? 

  • Do the icons clearly represent what is intended? 

  • Does the text follow basic rules of grammar, spelling and literary composition?

  •  Is there an element of creativity, and does it add to or detract from the document itself? 

  • Can the text stand alone for use in line-mode (text only) Web browsers as well as multimedia browsers, or is there an option for line-mode browsers?

  • Is attention paid to the print and graphics options; audio; alternative text for graphics? 

  • Are links provided to Web "subject trees" or directories -- lists of subject--arranged Web sources? 

  • How usable is the site? Can visitors get the information they need within a reasonable number of links (preferably 3 or fewer clicks)? 

Other

  • Is appropriate interactivity available? 

  • When it is necessary; to send confidential information out over the Internet, is encryption (i.e., a secure coding system) available? 

  • How secure is it? 

  • Are there links to search engines or is a search engine attached to (embedded in) the Web site? 

Adapted from Esther Grassian, UCLA College Library