Evaluating WebsitesStephanie HerfelLibrarian Newburgh Campus

Library

Be a investigator…

PurposeWhy was the website created?.edu and .gov sites are reliable.com generally exist to sell you something.org sites are okay as long as the purpose is

not to convince that an opinion is factWho is the intended audience?Is there a lot of advertising on the page = Be

critical!

AuthorityIs the author’s name easy to find?Is the author an expert on the topic? Is an About Us page included?Does the website have a contact page?.gov, .edu, or .org site?Are sources cited?

ABOUT UShttp://www.cancer.org/

Let’s Look at an Example…http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

Objectivity Why was the webpage created? Fact or an opinion? Look out for biasBias = an opinion formed without evidence, facts, or knowledge.

Currency (When?)When was the webpage written?When was the page last updated?Medical and technology- dates are importantLiterature and history topics- dates are less

important

CoverageIs there enough information for your purpose?Is the information provided

appropriate for college research?

Can the same information be found from a more credible source?

(book, encyclopedia, or journal article)

Design

How is the information arranged?

Is it well organized?Is the webpage free of

spelling/grammar errors?

A reliable website has: Purpose. If your page was created to educate or help others and…

Authority. If your page lists the author credentials and its domain is preferred (.edu, .gov, .org, or .net) and…

Objectivity. If your page provides accurate information with limited advertising and it is objective in presenting the information, and . . .

Currency. If your page is current and updated regularly (as stated on the page) and the links (if any) are also up-to-date, and . . .

Coverage. If your page has enough information to suit your purpose, and …

Design If the information is well organized and free of errors then . . .

IT HAS CREDIBILITY = A RELIABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION!

Searching Tip

To search within a specific top-level domain like .org, .edu, .gov

Examples: garlic site:.gov dietary supplement site:.edu

Work CitedKapoun, Jim. "Teaching undergrads WEB

evaluation: A guide for library instruction." C&RL News (July/August 1998): 522-523.