Evaluating and Citing Websites

The World Wide Web is a wonderful source of useful, current information. However, anyone can make "information" available on the Web. Users need to exercise critical judgment in reviewing what they find.

Written by Cecilia Durkin, CAPCON, Washington, D.C.

Guidelines for Evaluating and Citing Websites

Accuracy

Is the information accurate?
Is it verifiable?
Is there an editorial board?
Is the content peer reviewed?

Authority

Who is providing the information?
What are their credentials?
Do they represent a recognized organization?
Is contact information provided for the author or publisher?

Objectivity

What is the purpose of the information?
Who is the intended audience?
Is the information presented objectively?
Does it reflect biases of the author or source?
What point-of-view is represented?
What biases?

Currency

When was the information created?
When was the site last updated?
How reliable are the links?
Is the site suitable?
Is there a stated policy for site maintenance?

Coverage

What information is covered?
How is the information organized?
How thorough is the coverage compared to other sources?
Is it relevant to your subject and to your needs?
Does the content provide a new prospective?

Evaluating the Information You Find

Evaluating Information Found on the Internet
http://www.library.jhu.edu/elp/useit/evaluate/
Excellent guide to help you decide the value of websites. Discusses propaganda, misinformation, disinformation, bias, and resource evaluation. From the Johns Hopkins University library.

Evaluating The Quality of Information on the Internet
http://www.virtualchase.com/quality/index.html
Handy checklist for discovering quality in web-based information, with comments on technical trickery, examples of bogus websites, plus resources for learning more. Part of the Virtual Chase: Legal Research on the Internet, but this useful information is not just for lawyers.

Evaluating Web Resources
http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/webevaluation/webeval.htm
Detailed checklists from Widener University help you determine the value of information found on advocacy, business, news, informational and personal web pages. A good reminder that the web searcher must also be a critical reviewer.

Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools
http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/nyla/webeval.html
In-depth, yet easy-to-follow instruction on analyzing web sites. Includes links to examples of various types of sites.

How To Evaluate Health Information on the Internet: Questions and Answers
http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/2_10.htm
These key points and 12 questions from the National Cancer Institute should be considered for all Internet sites, not only health websites.

Top Five Tips for Finding Advice and Information on the Internet

Produced by Consumers International and Consumer WebWatch.

--Don't believe everything you read.
--Don't rely on just one site.
--Check the site's background.
--Check how reliable the information is.
--Check what risks you may be taking by using the site.

Citing Electronic Sources

Citing Electronic Sources: Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/netciteFARQ.html
Many people want to know how to cite information that they find on the Internet in school papers, theses, reports, etc. There is no definitive answer, but the Internet Public Library has gathered a nice list of suggestions.

Style Sheets for Citing Internet & Electronic Resources
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Style.html
Part of the UC Berkeley Internet Tutorial series, here are easy-to-read, basic guidelines for formatting electronic resource citations. Adapted from the Columbia Guide to Online Style, one of the most thorough guides to citing electronic resources available.

Footnoting Electronic Sources
http://www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/pages/high/Acad/BkMrks/docstyles.html#elecsources
Thorough, clear instruction in cyber-attribution, aimed at students.

Guide to Citation Style Guides
http://bailiwick.lib.uiowa.edu/journalism/cite.html
While aimed at journalism students, this well-annotated guide to citing resources will be useful to any writer. Includes both print and electronic styles.