Evaluating Websites

When using the internet for study purposes, be sure that information on the website is credible and relevant. Anyone can be a publisher on the internet, and good looking websites do not necessarily provide quality content: If the information is not good enough for academic research your argument will lose credibility.

You also need to be sure that the information fits the assignment and research criteria. (Information from a sociology website may not be appropriate to be used in an education studies assignment). Use the following criteria and questions as a guide to help you determine if the information on the website is authoritative, current and reliable.

Authority and Authorship

The author of a website or webpage can be a person or an organisation. The identity of authors often verifies information and the quality of the source. Is that author known and respected within the scholarly literature for your discipline?

Check the Domain Name

Domain names give an indication of the nature of a website. Is the domain address:

Commercial (.net /.com /.biz)?
Non-Commercial (.org)?
Educational (.edu /.ac)?
Governmental (.govt /.gov)?
Personal page( ~ /.name )?

For example: The domain name tells you that http://www.waikato.ac.nz is educational and the official website of the University of Waikato. This often gives an indication of the website's authority.

Check the Credentials of the website

What is the reputation of the site?
Is the site well-known?
What is the reputation of others involved in the production of the site, such as publishers, sponsors, advertisers?
Does the site have any credentials from other websites? (e.g. Has it awards? Is it listed in an authoritative website's portal?)

Identify the Author

There can be many people who author content in different pages of a site, so you should identify the author of the actual information you want to use. Often the authors of a page can be identified on the first page of a website (at the bottom of the webpage - copyright section). Alternatively, this information might be found via a link to author information or profile page (e.g. About us or About me). Once you have identified the author you should consider:

Are the authors qualified in the area in which they are writing?
Do they have some standing in the field?
Are they authorized to comment on this topic on behalf of the organisation who own the website
If the author's identity cannot be found, it is most likely the information is unreliable.

Currency

Outdated information can lead to inaccuracy and misleading information. This is particularly important when your topic is one that requires current information. Some things to consider:

When was the page created and updated?
The date of creation or last update is often found at the bottom of the first page of the site. Otherwise, go to author information page, if available. Also check how frequently the site is updated if this information is available.
How current are the links? Have some expired?
Dead links signify lack of maintenance. The website may not be current enough to use in your assignment.

Reliability

Think critically to verify a site's reliability. Be aware that some sites present opinion as fact in order to sell, persuade or entertain. For this reason, it is very important to understand a site's purpose.

Purpose

Do you understand the site's purpose?
Is it to inform, entertain, persuade?
Is the information appropriate to your needs?
Can you locate a statement of intended purpose and coverage?
Does the site fulfil its purpose?

Intended Audience

Who is the intended audience and what level is the information?
How superficial or comprehensive is the coverage?
Are there sources and references given within this site?
Is there a bibliography or links to further information on the topic? (This is to be expected if the website is intended for academic audience).

Credibility

It is also important to consider how trustworthy the information on the site is. Facts should be verifiable and while opinions are fine, these should be placed in an appropriate scholarly context.

Are there discrepancies with other information you have located on the topic? How does the information on this site or webpage compare?
What is the objective of those involved in the development of the site? Does the site show a bias towards particular points of view? (Is it an advocacy site?)

Miscellaneous

Editorial control

How well is the site edited? Are there spelling mistakes or grammatical errors?
These flaws weaken a website's professional credibility.
Can you detect counterfeit and hoax sites, which mimic the look of an original site? e.g. http://whitehouse.net (comic) http://www.whitehouse.gov/ (official)

Site structure

Is it easy for the intended audience to locate and connect to the site?
Is the site presented and arranged in a clear style?
Are the instructions easy to understand and use?
Do graphics serve a function or are they decorative?
Is colour contrast used effectively?

Site functionality

If the site is multimedia, consider appropriateness of use, quality of the image, sound and interactivity.
Do you need to download software to use this site? Is the software readily available? (e.g. Flash Player, Real Player, MS Media Player.)
If JavaScript is used, is it possible to print out the Java controlled web page?
If there are plug-ins, widgets on the site, do they add value or are they just decorative bells and whistles?