Information from web sites can be very easy to find. Due to the nature of the web, it is very important to evaluate anything that you find before including it in an assignment or essay.
Anyone can author or publish material on a web site. No quality control process is required.
This doesn't mean that you shouldn't use information from web sites but it does mean that you need to apply evaluation criteria to help you decide whether to use the website's information.
Evaluation criteria
Authority - What type of site is it? Who authored the content? What was is the intended audience?
Accuracy - What evidence is presented? Does the site reference other sources?
Currency - When was the last time the site was updated? Does the information presented have a "published" date?
In the space below is a mock webpage that has been created to illustrate what to look out for when evaluating sources of information found on the internet. The Evaluating information sources criteria from the previous page can also be used to evaluate information you find on the Internet.
View the alternative text version of the interactive image Evaluating websites
Credits: Website homepage mock-up was created using Wix.com
The image is a mockup of a website showing website sections of the URL box, central picture depicting student reading a book representing information seeking behaviour, smaller pictures representing critical thinking, evaluating websites and an advertisement. The purpose of the website mockup is to engage students with how to evaluate information they find on the website. The following information is provided in text boxes accompanying the image:
URL: The URL of the websites can provide clues as to the credibility of the website. Pay particular attention to the domain names or endings of the URL.
.org- not for profit organisation
.edu- educational institution
.gov- government
.com- corporate organisation/ or individual
The geographic location can be identified by the domain name. For example:
.au- Australia
.uk- United Kingdom
Purpose: The 'About Us' section of the website might contain information about the purpose of the website.
What is the purpose of the website? Inform, Sell, Teach, Entertain, Persuade. The purpose or objective of a website could also be found in 'mission' or 'vision' statement on the website. This is usually found in an 'About us' section.
Authority: Information about the author/s experience and/or qualifications could be found under the 'About Us' section of the website. Remember to double check the credentials of the author/s. This can be done by conducting further research on the authors.
Accuracy: Has the information been referenced or citations provided? Has the author provided facts and statistics? Scan through the text. Are there spelling or grammar errors?
Currency: When was the page last updated? Look for last updated or copyright stamps.