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Below are some criteria to consider in evaluating information, regardless of the format in which it appears:
- How relevant or useful is the information I am looking at for the topic I am studying? Would I use this information for my project? Why or why not?
- What type of web site or information resource is this-—informational, academic, advocacy, commercial, legal, news, diary or blog? Does it fit into several categories? If so, which categories?
- Who is the intended audience? How can you tell?
- What is the intended purpose of this information or page?
- How effectively does the site or page convey the intended message? What types of colors, graphics, audio, video, text are used? What do these elements convey?
- Do the graphics (if available) provide useful additional information or serve an important function or are they merely aesthetically pleasing?
- What is the source of the information? Is this documented? Are the author's sources listed, either in footnotes, a bibliography, or end references?
- Do other sources support this information?
- Are there spelling, grammatical, or other writing errors?
- Who is the publisher of this information?
- Is there any indication that the information has been reviewed by editors or peer reviewed?
- Is this a reputable source or author?
- What are the author's credentials?
- Is this person an authority in this field?
- Is the origin of the information documented? Are the author’s sources listed, either in footnotes, a bibliography, or referenced in the text?
- Are there spelling, grammatical, or other errors? If so, where?
- Is there any indication that the information has been reviewed by editors or peer reviewed?
- What appears to be the author’s motivation for providing this information?
- Are any biases noted? If so, what are they?
- Is there advertising on the site? If so, what type of advertising is there and is it clearly differentiated from the content?
- How current is the information provided? When was this information last updated?
- Is it up-to-date enough for my needs?
- Is this information available here at the library or at another location that is readily accessible?
- What other resources are available on this topic?
- Has the Reference Librarian been consulted to find other sources?
Relevancy
Audience/Purpose
Authority/Reliability
Note: To determine the author's credibility, background information on the person may be located elsewhere in the information source, or may be located in biographical sources in the library's collection or databases. Ask a Reference Librarian if you need assistance finding this information.
Accuracy/Reliability
Objectivity
Currency/Recency
Availability
- Is this information readily available in another format that may be easier to use?
- Is the information free or do I have to pay a fee to access it?
- Is the site usually so busy that I can't get through to it or is it no longer available?
- How broad or deep is the coverage of the topic on this page or site?
- Is it substantial enough for my needs?
- Is the origin of the information documented?
- Is the information verifiable and accurate?
- How knowledgeable is the author?
- Is the site sponsored by an individual or an organization?
Availability
Scope/Content
Reliability
Note: Some addresses or sites may not be accessible at all times due to Internet traffic, mechanical breakdowns, or relocation or removal of information.
Further information about evaluating information:
- Beck, Susan. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: or, Why It’s a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources. 9 Aug. 2007 [last update]. New Mexico State U Library. 4 Sept. 2007 <http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/eval.html>.
- Ormondroyd, Joan, Michael Engle and Tony Cosgrave. "How to Critically Analyze Information Sources." 6 Oct. 2004 [last revised]. Cornell U Library. 4 Sept. 2007 <http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill26.htm>.
- Tillman, Hope N. "Evaluating Quality on the Net." 28 Mar. 2003 [last update]. Hope N. Tillman. 4 Sept. 2007 <http://www.hopetillman.com/findqual.html>.
Meta-sites with academic subject directories:
- BUBL (BUlletin Board for Libraries) LINK (Libraries of Networked Knowledge) (http://bubl.ac.uk/link/)
Based at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland, provides links to resources around the world. Over 50% of resources included originate in the United Kingdom or elsewhere outside the United States. Browsable by subject or Dewey Decimal Classification or searchable.
- INFOMINE: Scholarly Internet Resource Collections (http://infomine.ucr.edu/)
- Brief descriptions and links to over 14,000 "academically valuable resources" arranged in the following categories: Biological, Agricultural & Medical Sciences; Government Information; Instructional Resources; Internet Enabling Tools; Maps & GIS; Physical Sciences, Engineering, Computing & Math; Regional & General Interest; Social Sciences & Humanities; Visual & Performing Arts. Sponsored by the Library of the University of California, Riverside.
- Scholarly Societies Project (http://www.scholarly-societies.org/)
- Sponsored by the University of Waterloo Electronic Library, provides links to home pages and resources, including newsletters and conference announcements, of scholarly societies around the world.
- Internet Scout Project (http://scout.wisc.edu/)
- Provided by the Internet Scout Project, located in the Computer Sciences Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Since 1994, the Scout Project has focused on developing better tools and services for finding, filtering, and presenting online information and metadata. Published every Friday both on the web and by email, the Scout Report provides a fast, convenient way to stay informed of valuable resources on the Internet. The Project's team of professional librarians and subject matter experts select, research, and annotate each resource. Users can browse or search the entire Scout Report.