Critical Evaluation of Resources on the Internet
This guide has been updated and moved to the following URL: http://guides.library.ualberta.ca/eval_internet
Many of the same methods used to evaluate print sources, such as journal articles and books, also apply to the evaluation of resources on the Internet. In addition, there are some evaluation criteria that are unique to Internet resources.
The following points are intended to provide assistance in evaluating resources on the Internet. Unlike most books and journal articles, which undergo a peer review process prior to publication, anyone can publish anything on the Internet. For that reason, it is imperative to critically evaluate all information taken from resources on the Internet.
Table of Contents
Links to Other Useful Internet Evaluation Sites
- General Links
- Helpful Links for Teachers and Students
- Links to Bibliographies or Lists of Evaluation Sites
- Guide on Plagiarism
Evaluation Criteria
- What subject is covered?
- What is the purpose of the site?
- Is the site intended to be comprehensive or selective?
- Who is the intended audience? What is the intended age or academic level?
- How does the site compare with other related sites? With other related print sources?
- Is the information unique, or is it available in other forms?
- What are the credentials of the author(s)/organization who produced the site?
- Is the author/organization well regarded in the field covered by the resource?
- Is information concerning the author(s)/organization included on the site?
- Is contact information for the author(s)/organization provided?
- On which server is the site mounted?
- Is it reputable? Sponsored?
- Is there a tilde (~) in the url? This may indicate a personal web directory, thereby reflecting a personal rather than institutional viewpoint.
- Is there an obvious bias? Is this site designed for promotional purposes?
- Does the address, specifically the domain, suggest the perspective from which the site was designed and does this suit your purposes? For example, ".edu," ".com," ".gov" respectively imply education, commercial, and government origins.
- Did you link to the site from another site of which you know and trust the credentials?
- Has the site been favourably reviewed by a browser or other Internet reviewing agency?
- Have the contents been refereed?
- Have the contents been carefully edited?
- Are there grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors?
- Is appropriate attribution given where required?
- When was the site created?
- When was it last updated, and is this done regularly?
- How current are the links? Do they work?
- Does the site evolve over time, or would one visit be sufficient?
- Is post-publishing editing allowed in the case of electronic journals?
- Is the document complete, or has it also been published in an expanded print version?
- Are all graphics included in the electronic format?
- Are the resources well organized and logically presented?
- Are the text and background colour choices contrasting enough for the text to be easily read?
- Is the background plain enough for the text to be easily read?
- Are the graphics clear and representative?
- Are the graphics functional or decorative?
- Are the graphics too complex and make the page frustratingly slow to load up or to print?
- Is the page cluttered? Or does it include too much blank space which makes printing costly?
- If the site is multimedia, consider creativity, quality of the image and sound, and interactivity.
- Is multimedia appropriate for the site?
- Is an indication of size provided in kilobytes where a link leads to large volumes of data (text, images, video, or voice)?
- Is it easy for the intended audience to connect to the site?
- Is the site user friendly with an effective interface?
- Is the design of the site linear enough so that the user can follow through and know that they have examined all components?
- Is there an option for line-mode (text) browser as well as multimedia browser?
- Is there a requirement for special software and, if so, can the software be accessed or downloaded easily?
- In the case of compressed files, is it clear how to gain access to the files?
- Is the site open to anyone? Or do some sections require registration or payment?
- In what language is the site written?
- If the site is offered in translation, is the translation accurate?
- Are the addresses of linking urls provided so that viewers using printed or downloaded versions of the site can still access them?
- Are special needs users considered in the design? For example, are alternate text descriptions provided for the visually impaired? How will the page function for hearing impaired users?
Return to Table of Contents
Links to Other Useful Internet Evaluation Sites
- Evaluating Web Resources Checklist [http://www.library.ualberta.ca/instruction/science/evalweb.pdf] A very useful checklist adopted by the University of Alberta Libraries.
- Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask [http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html] A tutorial with specific emphasis on how to looking for indicators of quality information.
- Evaluating Websites [http://www2.hawaii.edu/~pollard/critical.html] This is a revised, expanded version of an earlier article "The World Wide Web Demands World-Class Thinking Skills," Teaching for Success, vol. 13, no. 6 (September 2001), p. 3, by Vincent K Pollard.
- Criteria for Evaluation of Internet Information Sources [http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/index.htm] This site, compiled by Alastair Smith of the Department of Library and Information Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, was designed specifically for evaluating Internet sources for use by libraries.
- Evaluating Internet Information
[http://www.library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/general/evaluating/index.html] This document, by Elizabeth E. Kirk, Electronic and Distance Education Librarian at Johns Hopkins University, discusses the criteria by which scholars in most fields evaluate print information, and shows how the same criteria can be used to assess information found on the Internet.
- Thinking Critically about Discipline-Based World Wide Web Resources
[http://www.wartburg.edu/library/infolit/Handouts/ThinkingCritically.doc] UCLA College Library Instruction.
Return to Table of Contents
2. Helpful Links for School Teachers and Students
- 2Learn's helpful guide for students and teachers can be found in their page: Evaluating a WebSite [http://www.netknowhow.ca/nkhSRevaluate.html] Includes printable forms for students to use.
- Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators: Critical Evaluation Surveys [http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/eval.html] Includes links to three critical evaluation surveys for use at the elementary, middle and secondary school levels, as well as other useful links.
- QUICK: The QUality Information ChecKlist
[http://www.learnnc.org/lp/external/QUICK ] Teachers guide to help students find clues so they can decide if the information in a web site is reliable.
- CyberGuides [http://www.cyberbee.com/guides_sites.html] Includes links to two separate rating systems for website content and website design.
Return to Table of Contents
3. Links to Bibliographies or Lists of Evaluation Sites
- Evaluation of Information Sources [http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/evaln.htm] This site, from the World-Wide Web Virtual Library, is a comprehensive listing of Internet resource evaluation sources found primarily on the Internet. The site is maintained by Alastair Smith.
- Bibliography on Evaluating Internet Resources [http://www.lib.vt.edu/help/instruct/evaluate/evalbiblio.html] A bibliography of Internet, print, and listserv sources on evaluating Internet resources compiled by Virginia Tech University Libraries.
4. Guide on Plagiarism
To help prevent plagiarism, the University of Alberta libraries have developed a very useful guide, please see A Guide to Plagiarism and Cyber-Plagiarism
[http://www.library.ualberta.ca/guides/plagiarism/index.cfm] for information.
Herbert T. Coutts Education and Physical Education Library
University of Alberta
Author: Josie.Tong@ualberta.ca
Updated: January 9, 2009
