General Tutorial

Purpose
What is the purpose of the site or page? Look for tips in graphics and text. Web pages may be...

commercial
informative
educational
entertaining
persuasive
personal
institutional
a hoax (see below)

What does the URL (Web address) say about the producer of the web site, and its purpose?

.gov Government agency: www.whitehouse.gov
.net Internet Service Provider: www.whitehouse.net
.edu Higher education - www.lesley.edu. Other educational sites may appear with different domain names: www.whitehouse.gov/kids
.mil Military site- www.navy.mil/
.org Organization; may be charitable, religious, or a lobbying group - http://www.rtda.org/news.html.

Five criteria for evaluating Web pages

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?

How to interpret

Accuracy

Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number.

Know the distinction between author and Webmaster.

2. Authority of Web Documents

Who published the document and is it separate from the "Webmaster?"
Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this document?
Does the publisher list his or her qualifications?

How to interpret

Authority

What credentials are listed for the author(s)?
Where is the document published? Check 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?

How to interpret

Objectivity

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 to interpret

Currency

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Is the information on the page outdated?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 documents' theme?
Is it all images or a balance of text and images?
Is the information presented cited correctly?

How to interpret

Coverage

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?

Putting it all together

Accuracy. If your page lists the author and institution that published the page and provides a way of contacting him/her 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 you can view the information properly--not limited to fees, browser technology, or software requirement, then . . .

If it meets this criteria you may have a Web page that could be of value to your research!


	How to Evaluate Internet Resources
	Purpose What is the purpose of the site or page? Look for tips in graphics and text. Web pages may be... commercial informative educational entertaining persuasive personal institutional a hoax (see below) What does the URL (Web address) say about the producer of the web site, and its purpose? .gov Government agency: www.whitehouse.gov .net Internet Service Provider: www.whitehouse.net .edu Higher education - www.lesley.edu. Other educational sites may appear with different domain names: www.whitehouse.gov/kids .mil Military site- www.navy.mil/ .org Organization; may be charitable, religious, or a lobbying group - http://www.rtda.org/news.html. Five criteria for evaluating Web pages 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? How to interpret Accuracy Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number. Know the distinction between author and Webmaster. 2. Authority of Web Documents Who published the document and is it separate from the "Webmaster?" Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this document? Does the publisher list his or her qualifications? How to interpret Authority What credentials are listed for the author(s)? Where is the document published? Check 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? How to interpret Objectivity 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 to interpret Currency 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 documents' theme? Is it all images or a balance of text and images? Is the information presented cited correctly? How to interpret Coverage 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? Putting it all together Accuracy. If your page lists the author and institution that published the page and provides a way of contacting him/her 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 you can view the information properly--not limited to fees, browser technology, or software requirement, then . . . If it meets this criteria you may have a Web page that could be of value to your research!