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Evaluation Criteria

Criteria

Characteristics

Problems
Authority An authoritative source makes clear:
•Who is responsible for page content
•Author’s qualifications
•Identification of parent organization
•Parent organization’s qualifications
 •Often difficult to determine authorship
of Web resources
•If author’s name is listed, the
qualifications are frequently absent
•Publisher responsibility often not
indicated
•Contact information often not listed
Accuracy An accurate site presents information that:
•Is detailed and comprehensive
•Is recent, where appropriate
•Lists sources for presented information
•Links to reputable outside sources
 •Almost anyone can publish on the Web
•Many Web resources not verified by
editors or fact checkers
•Includes lies, inaccuracies, distortions,
myths, dubious data and stereotypes
•No links to outside sources for
additional information are listed
Currency A Web site with currency indicates:
•Date the page was written
•Date the page was placed on web
•Date the page was last revised 		•No dates on Web pages
•May present stale information
•May include dead links
•Factual information often not dated
Objectivity An objective source:
•Presents information with a minimum of bias
•Is fair, balanced and reasonable
• Is without conflict of interest
 •May advocate one point of view (bias)
•Failure to differentiate advocacy vs. fact
•May be difficult to determine goals/aims of site sponsor
•Can serve as a means for advertising (infomercial)


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