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how to evaluate websites

don't be fooled!

Anyone can publish on the Internet, and it's not that hard to do.  All you need is a computer, an Internet provider and a Web authoring program.  This is one of the great aspects of the Internet; everyone can express his or her own thoughts and ideas and information can be shared with people around the world.  However, anyone could make a web site that says they are an expert on a subject, but this doesn't necessarily mean it's true.  So you need to evaluate the information you get online!

Ask yourself the following questions when evaluating a website:

Authoring/Credibility: Who owns the website and why?

• Are the author's name and email address included?
• Is the website affiliated with any major institutions or organizations?
• What is the expertise of the individual or group that created the site?
• Does the author's/group's affiliation appear to bias the information?
• Is the purpose of the website stated?
• Why are they giving away this information for free?
• Are they trying to sell you something?

Content: Does the website contain accurate, reliable information?

• When was it last updated?
• Is the content meaningful and useful?
• Does it contain original content?
• Is any sort of bias evident?
• Does the content appear to be fact or opinion?
• Can the information be verified in book, periodical, or other sources?
• Does it contain primary source material?
• Are the links up to date?
• Is the grammar and spelling correct?

For example, take a look at these two sites about frogs (can you tell which is the authoritative, educational site?):

• http://michelesworld.net/Frogs/frog.htm
• http://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/index.html

Some websites are commercial sites, not reliable sources of information.  Compare these two sites that seem to contain legal information:

• http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/
• http://www.courttv.com

Or these two pages about cancer and smoking:

• http://oncolink.upenn.edu
• http://www.forces.org/evidence/evid/therap.htm

Remember, some websites try to look authoritative or academic, but may actually be trying to manipulate you.  They may not being trying to sell you a product but rather their view of the world.  Just because a site looks scholarly and respectable doesn't mean it is. 

One good strategy is to examine what other experts think about the opinions stated on a site.  Just because a site is going against accepted opinion doesn't make it wrong, but sites that defy accepted wisdom have a higher burden of proof.

Always ask yourself Who is the source? Why should I trust them? How do they know that?  There is a lot of great information on the Net, but you have to look at it with a skeptical eye!

Here's even more information about evaluating websites:

• Infosearcher's Cybertour on Web Evaluation
• Quality Information Checklist (QUICK)
• Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators

Information for this page taken from:
Block, Marylaine. "Gullible's Travels" Library Journal net connect Spring 2002, p.12-14.

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