There are two recommended approaches to evaluating web based resources in an academic setting. The first is a general approach which should be applied to all web sites/documents and was developed by Jim Kapoun. It involves the application of five standard criteria to each web site/document. The second approach is a scientific evaluation of the information provided and was developed by Norman Goodyear. This material has been used with their permission.

Questions to ask yourself when evaluating Web pages - By Jim Kapoun
1. Accuracy of Web Documents
Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her? What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced? Is this person qualified to write this document?	Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address / phone number Know the distinction between an author and a Webmaster
2. Authority of Web Documents
Who published the document and is the publisher separate from the Webmaster? Check the domain of the document; what institution publishes this document? Does the publisher list his or her qualifications?	What credentials are listed for the author or authors? Where is the document published? Check the URL domain.
3. Objectivity of Web Documents
What goals/objectives does this page meet? How detailed is the information? What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author?	Determine if page is a mask for advertising; if so, information might be biased. View any Web page as you would an infomercial on television. Ask yourself why was this written and for whom?
4. Currency of Web Documents
When was it produced? When was it updated? How up-to-date are the links (if any)?	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 Is the information on the page outdated?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 the Web Documents
Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the document’s theme? Is it all images or a balance of text and images? Is the information presented cited correctly?	If page requires special software to view the information, how much are you missing if you don’t have the software? Is it free, or is there a fee, to obtain the information? Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a suggested browser for better viewing?
* Kapoun, J. 1998. Teaching undergraduates WEB evaluation. College & Research Libraries News. July/August 1998. p. 522-523

 

Jim Kapoun has summarized general criteria for evaluation of web resources:

If your page . . .

(Accuracy) lists the author and institution that published the page and provides a way of contacting him/her, and . . .

(Authority) lists the author credentials and its domain is preferred (.edu .gov .org .net), and . . .

(Objectivity) provides accurate information with limited advertising and it is objective in presenting the information, and . . .

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

(Coverage) If you can view the information properly - not limited to fees, browser technology, or software requirement, then . . .

You may have a higher quality Web page that could be of value to your research.

* Kapoun, J. 1998. Teaching undergraduates WEB evaluation. College & Research Libraries News. July/August 1998. p. 522-523

Norman Goodyear has summarized criteria for the scientific evaluation of web resources:

It has been said that during the last decade of the twentieth century we have moved into the Infomation Age. We receive a tremendous amount of information daily from various and varied sources. For a host of reasons, including effectiveness and efficiency, we need to know where to find information and then be able to determine which sources are reliable. The World Wide Web is continuing to grow and be used as a place to publish information. However, web resources are not necessarily reviewed or refereed and require the researcher to very carefully evaulate the information provided. Here are some guidelines for evaluating web resources for scientific content:

• Does the site differentiate between fact and fiction (e.g. is this an infomercial)?
• Does the author support their claims (including opinion) with evidence, either an original replicated scientific experiment or a refereed reference?
• Is the source of evidence revealed?
• Is the conclusion consistent with the evidence provided?
• Is the organization (site) independent (no vested interest in product)?
• Is there a potential bias based on funding source?