Evaluating Internet Resources

Evaluating Internet Resources

Purpose

Audience

Consider the intended audience of the page, based on its content, tone and style

Does this mesh with your needs?

Consider the Source

Web search engines often amass vast results, from memos to scholarly documents

Many of the resulting items will be peripheral or useless for your research

Source

Author/producer is identifiable

Author/producer has expertise on the subject as indicated on a credentials page. You may need to trace back in the URL (Internet address) to view a page in a higher directory with background information

Sponsor/location of the site is appropriate to the material as shown in the URL
Examples:

	.edu for educational or research material
	.gov. for government resources
	.com for commercial products or commercially-sponsored sites

~NAME in URL may mean a personal home page with no official sanction

Mail-to link is offered for submission of questions or comments

Content

Accuracy

Don't take the information presented at face value

Web sites are rarely refereed or reviewed, as are scholarly journals and books

Look for

	point of view
	evidence of bias

Source of the information should be clearly stated, whether original or borrowed from elsewhere

Comprehensiveness

Depth of information: determine if content covers a specific time period or aspect of the topic, or strives to be comprehensive

Use additional print and electronic sources to complement the information provided

Currency

look to see if

	Site has been updated recently, as reflected in the date on the page
	Material contained on the page is current
	Links are relevant and appropriate
	Don't assume that the linked sites are the best available. Be sure to investigate additional sites on the topic

Style and Functionality

Site is laid out clearly and logically with well organized subsections

Writing style is appropriate for the intended audience

Site is easy to navigate, including

Clearly labeled Back, Home, Go To Top icons/links

Internal indexing links on lengthy pages

Links to remote sites all work

Search capability is offered if the site is extensive

Links to Additional Sites with Web Evaluation Materials

Ciolek, T. M. & Goltz, I. M. Information Quality WWW Virtual Library
(http://www.ciolek.com/WWWVL-InfoQuality.html)

Grassian, E. Thinking Critically About World Wide Web Resources
(http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/instruct/web/critical.htm)

Harris, R. Evaluating Internet Research Sources
(http://www.sccu.edu/faculty/R_Harris/evalu8it.htm)

Hinchliffe, L. J. Resource Selection and Information Evaluation
(http://alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/~janicke/Evaluate.html)

Ormondroyd, J., Engle, M., & Cosgrave, T. How to Critically Analyze Information Sources ( http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill26.htm )

Schrock, K. (Ed.). Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators: Critical Evaluation Information (http://discoveryschool.com/schrockguide/eval.html)

University at Albany Libraries. Evaluating Internet Resources
(http://www.albany.edu/library/internet/evaluate.html)

Any comments, concerns, questions or suggestions should be directed to:

Library Webmaster
Paul Meek Library
University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN 38238