Research Resources: Website Evaluation

• Use the following criteria when evaluating a website:

  Currency

  • The information is up-to-date.
  • The page is complete.
  • The page is updated regularly.
  • Good Example:
    • New York Times
    • www.nytimes.com
      • The New York Times updates their online newspaper daily and posts the time it was updated.
  • Questionable Example: 
    • Death Penalty Focus
    • www.deathpenalty.org/article.php?id=49
      • This site does not have any date showing when it was posted.
  • Practice: When was the website made?

  Relevance

  • The extent to which a topic is explored. 
  • The links are accurate and good.
  • The page is complete.  
  • The information is free. 
  • The topic is covered adequately.
  • The page has thorough documentation.
  • Is the page a primary or secondary site.
  • Good Example:
    • CDC:  Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking
    • www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/
      • This article provides information on the health effects of cigarette smoking.
  • Questionable Example:
    • Number of the Month
    • www.numberwatch.co.uk/2004%20July.htm
      • This page gives no documentation, no author, no links, and very little information.
  • Practice: Tattoo History Source Book

   Authority

  • The author is an expert in the field.
  • The author is qualified, reliable, and knowledgeable. 
    • Look for the author's credentials.
    • Look for personal home page, previous publications, email address, and other activities.
      • https://heliuw.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/ward-and-brown-oh-happy-day-2015.pdf
      • http://www.son.wisc.edu/associate-professor-ward.htm
  • Look for links titled "About Us", "Biography", "Philosophy", or "Background"
  • Search using multiple search engines
  • Truncate back to domain name to check publisher's authority
  • Look for it in an annotated professional directory
  • Check if other websites link to the page. Use different web browsers.
  • Google the author "Earlise C. Ward":  www.google.com
    • Example search: link:www.wisconsin.gov
  • Look for the "owner" of the site using a "whois" search.
    • www.betterwhois.com
  • Good Example:
    • The Jack London Collection
    • http://london.sonoma.edu
      • This website on Jack London has an author, an institutional affiliation, and contact information.
  • Questionable Example:
    • Life of Amos Bronson Alcott
    • www.alcott.net/frame.html
      • Click on biography
      • This web page has no author, no institutional affiliation, no contact information.
  • Practice: Who Is the Author?

  Accuracy

  • The reliability and correctness of the information.
  • The sources used for statistics, facts, and data are documented.
    • Check other web sites to verify the information.
  • The website looks professional.
    • No spelling and grammatical errors.
  • It is free of advertising.
  • Good Example:
    • U.S. Census Bureau
      • The sources used to create the data is listed on the bottom of the page.
  • Questionable Example:
    • 1000 Friends of Wisconsin and the Land Use Institute
      • This site does not document the sources used for the statistics posted in the article.

  Purpose

  • The information is factual data and is free from personal bias.
  • The tone of the page is balanced and scholarly.
  • Facts are separated from opinion.
  • The information is very detailed.
  • The goals or objectives are clear.
  • Does the author use inflammatory language or make over generalizations.
  • Good  Example:
    • The Alzheimer's Association
    • www.alz.org/about_us_about_us_.asp
      • This site clearly states its goals and does not appear to show bias.
  • Questionable Example:
    • www.aricept.com/alzheimers-stages
      • This page provides news and information about Alzheimer's Disease, but it is sponsored by a drug company. It also has a disclaimer at the bottom of the page.
  • Practice: Is There Bias?

The Domain level of a website tells you type of entity that owns the website. A .gov website would have the highest credibility ranking and a .net website would have the lowest credibility ranking.

1. .gov (U.S. government)
2. .mil (U.S. military)
3. .edu (university or college)
4. .org (non-profit organization)
5. .com (commercial)
6. .net (network)

Examples:

• www.wisconsin.gov
• www.wisconsin.edu
• www.wisconsin.com