Evaluating Web Sites

Literally anyone can post anything on the Internet. As a result, the Internet provides a world of information, but it also provides a world of misinformation. How beneficial it is depends upon how well you know how to use it.

Anytime you go to a web site, ask yourself these questions:

1. What does the URL tell you about the site? Is the site the property of an institution of government (.gov), business (.com), non-profit (.org), or education (.edu)? Is it the site of an individual (for example, does the URL end like this: ~name)?

2. What is the purpose of the site? Is it to inform, to entertain, to sell you a product or service, to publicize the achivements of an organization, to present a particular point of view, to persuade you to purchase a product or support a cause?

3. Who are the creators of the site? Are they credible? How do you know? What are their credentials? Are they experts? Do they have any biases or agendas?

4. How reliable is the information on the site? Does it document its sources so you can confirm information on the site? Are facts, statistics, and claims verifiable? Is the site fair towards all perspectives? Does it present a particular point of view?

5. How up to date is the site? Is the information out of date? Would more up to date data be more useful? Is older information acceptable for the project you are working on? Or does the site need to be updated?

6. How well designed is the site? Is the layout organized and easy to use? Can you navigate and locate information easily in the site?
   
   

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