Many people have come to think that not only can they find anything on the internet, but that everything they find there is good information. The internet has a lot to offer, but the quality of the information available is very uneven. Almost anyone can put almost anything online, and since that information is usually not filtered or evaluated in any way, it's important to evaluate what you find. The reference librarians have provided the following criteria to consider when evaluating the quality of information resources found on the internet.
Authority |
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- Who is the author of the document or web site?
- Are his/her affiliations and qualifications given?
- Is there contact information (address, phone number, e-mail)?
- Who is the publisher or sponsoring organization?
- Is there a link to their home page?
- What is the relationship between the author and the sponsor/publisher?
- Is it a personal home page or institutionally sanctioned? (Hint: a /~name/ in the URL indicates a personal home page. Be aware, however, that this does not necessarily mean the information is less authoritative, but it's something to keep an eye out for, especially if you're already in doubt.)
Links to demonstrate authority:
Feline Reactions to Bearded Men
At first glance, these authors may seem to be credible, but as you read on, you might change your mind...
Dream Technologies International
This looks pretty real, doesn't it? (Click on "about us" to get to the truth.)
Note: Sometimes you can "cut back" the URL of the site to find out more information about who the authors or sponsors are, but this won't always work. This means you go into the location box and delete everything after the last slash in the URL, then press enter. You can keep doing this until you reach the host (first part of the address). In the example above, cutting back gets you to a page that tells you all about the author, and even has a picture.
Welcome to the White House
Click on "Why?" to find out all about "Bill and Al."
Accuracy |
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- Is the information valid, reliable and trustworthy?
- How is it edited?
- Are proper grammar and spelling used?
- Are the facts checked?
- Does it document sources of information used?
- Are there links to any of those sources?
- Is it verifiable? (Check other sources and compare.)
- How does it compare with what you already know?
Links to demonstrate accuracy:
The True but Little Known Facts about Women and Aids, with documentation
Do you believe these "facts"? There is documentation, after all.
Division of AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control
Likely to be a much more reliable source.
Currency |
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- Is the document dated regarding when it was created and last revised?
- Are there outdated links?
- Are there pointers to older or newer information?
- Are the references listed current?
Links to demonstrate currency:
OncoLink
Clearly states right at the top of the page when it was last updated, right down to the second.
CIA World Factbook, 1993
Don't assume that just because it's online, this is the most current information available from this source! Editions (or parts) of the CIA World Factbook from 1993-1996 are still floating around out there on the net.
The World Factbook (official CIA World Factbook)
You can clearly see that it's the current edition. The information about currency and updating is contained at the bottom of the first page.
Content/Coverage |
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- What's included?
- What is the depth and breadth of the information?
- Does it contain original information, or just links to other sources?
- What formats of information are included?
- What is the intended audience, or for what level is the information written?
- Is the information unique or is it duplicated in other sources?
- Are the scope, purpose and criteria for inclusion stated?
- Does the information have real value?
Link to demonstrate content/coverage:
Current Industrial Reports
These reports are a good source of information, but why does the list contain the ones it does and not others?
Michigan Electronic Library - Business, Economics and Labor
Although this site is very useful and well-organized, it doesn't actually contain any original information, just links to other sites. This is what is called a meta-site, or list of links (these also come in good and bad varieties).
What's in your desk drawer
Does this information have any real value?
Objectivity |
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- Why are the author and publisher providing you with this information?
- Is the information biased? Is it designed to sway opinion? From whose perspective is it given?
- Are they advertising or trying to sell you something?
- Is the site sponsored by the government or an educational institution, or a company or organization which may have an agenda? (Hint: look for the domain name at the end of the address, e.g., .edu, .gov, .com, .net or .org.)
Links to demonstrate objectivity:
Compare these two sites. They cover the same topic, but will they have the same information?:
Stormfront
What do you think the bias is on this site?
American Smokers Alliance
Do you think you'll find objective, factual information at this site?
National Alliance
Does it look like this group is objective?
National Rifle Association
What about this one?
Access |
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- Are there particular software or hardware requirements?
- Is it formatted only for a certain browser or is there alternate text-only access?
- Does it take a long time to load?
- Is the site stable or is it often down or too busy to access?
- Is it free or are there fees charged?
- Do you have to register in order to use the site, even if it is free?
Links to demonstrate access:
Hoover's Online
Some parts of this site are free, and some are subscription-based ($$).
National Gallery of Art Online Tours
You can only view these Virtual Room Tours if you have the QuickTime software installed on your computer.
Design/Appearance |
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- Does it make good use of screen layout, colors, graphics, etc.?
- Has it been proofread?
- Is it easy to read and navigate?
- Is it arranged clearly, logically and usefully?
Links to demonstrate design:
These range from the really annoying, garish or just useless to the mildly annoying but still useful:
Web Pages that Suck!
An entire web site dedicated to demonstrating truly awful web pages.
Last, but not least, how easy is it to identify these things, which you need to know in order to evaluate the site or document? Remember, make sure you try to determine the quality of any information sources you use, but especially information that comes from the internet.
Need help? Ask at the reference desk of the library.
