Critical Thinking & Information Literacy
Across the Curriculum

Evaluation Checklist for a Web Page

We need to evaluate the information we find on the World Wide Web in the same way as we evaluate information we read in a magazine or journal. We can use some of the same techniques but there are significant differences between information found on a Web page and in a reputable journal. There is no control of material placed on the Web and no standard methods of presenting material. You should remember that the Web is often used as a personal soapbox and that data and other information may be easily changed from their original source. Even quite bizarre statements can gain credibility if they are repeated often enough in a forum like the Internet.

Coverage of topics on the Web also may be different from print coverage. Some topics may have little or no information available, others may have very technical esoteric information intended for basic researchers. The Web is most useful for very current information as it is so easy to update. It is also useful for older, out of copyright, information.

Use the answers to the following questions to evaluate a web page that you accessed for your group project. You may need to use links to find out all the information. In evaluating the page consider how hard it was to locate the information you needed.

Attach a print out of page 1 of the web page. The print out should include the URL, title of page and date accessed.

Source

Is the author of the content on the Web page clearly identified? If so, list the name(s)

Does the author have expertise in this area? What credentials are given to indicate this? You may have to check back in the URL to a higher directory to find this information.

What information is given to enable you to contact the author or producer of this page? e.g. e-mail, mailing address, phone number.

Style

How easy is it to navigate the site? e.g. are there buttons for Back, Home, etc.

If it is a large site, are there search capabilities within the site?

Accuracy

Are the sources for factual information documented fully?

How could you check the accuracy of this information with another source?

How comprehensive is the coverage?

Is the information free of spelling and grammar errors?

Objectivity

What is the intended audience for this page?

Does the information presented try to persuade or sway your opinion in some way? If so, how?

Is there any advertising?

Currency

Is the material current?

Do the links to other Web pages work?

Are the links relevant and appropriate?

Your Evaluation

Based on your answers to the questions above and the information you found on this site, how would you rate the validity of this site as a source for your project? Explain your reasons.

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Updated August 25, 2003