This and other research guides are on the ACC Library web page,
http://library.sunyacc.edu, under Research Guides & Tutorials.

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Who’s responsible for checking that the information in a Web document is accurate? You!

Nobody else oversees the accuracy of billions of World Wide Web documents. Many Web sites offer quick, convenient, accurate information, but many do not. With no overall standards for quality, Web sites may contain information which may be inaccurate, outdated or offensive to you.

If you use the Web for research, you are responsible for evaluating the information you use. Treat unknown Web sites like gossip: if you don’t know who created the information, the motivation for creating the page or enough about a subject to know if it’s accurate, don’t believe it!

To check if a Web site is a hoax, virus, spam, or other questionable site, go to Purportal.com.

These guidelines will help you evaluate any information, on the Web or elsewhere:

Author:

Who is the author, producer or source? Is the author listed?

What is the authority of the author? Are any credentials or background given?

Is the author an expert on this particular topic?

Is contact information for the author available?

If from an organization, is their background given? Is it a group’s official site?

 Date and Currency:

When was the information produced?

When was the information last updated?

Are the links up-to-date, or do they lead to “dead ends”?

For the particular subject, does it matter if the information is the latest?

 
Bias/Objectivity:

Does the information offer facts or opinions? How can you tell the difference between the two?

Are political, cultural or other biases evident? Does it offer all viewpoints?

Is the author trying to sell a product or have other vested interests?

Is it comprehensive? What aspects of the topic does it cover?

Content:

What is the purpose of the resource? What does it contain?

Did you choose to use the site because it appeared at the top of your search results list, or because you decided it was relevant?

Is it accurate? Does it correspond to other facts you know about the topic?

When did the site start? (If not dated, be wary.)

Who is the audience? Does it match your level of familiarity with the topic?

Is the information clearly organized? Is it designed well?

Are the information sources cited in a bibliography?

Does the information offer primary (original) research, or is it derived or compiled from other information?

What other resources (both print and non-print) are available in this area?

Also see the ACC Library’s How to Search the Web Tutorial and the Evaluatiing Web Information Worksheet.  

For more information, see this guide from the libraries at Cornell University, which has many good links to other pages on Web evaluation: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webeval.html

Adapted 6/97 from a variety of sources, including: Grassian, Ester. Thinking critically about world wide web resources. File: www.ucla.edu/campus/computing/bruinonline/trainers/critical.html Retrieved 2/15/96.
                                                                                        Updated May 2008/JM