| Evaluating Website information |
Understanding the basics |
1. Accuracy
- Who wrote the page and can you contact the author?
- What is the purpose of the website and why was it published?
- Is the author qualified to write this document?
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Accuracy
- Make sure that the author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number.
- Know the difference between author and Webmaster.
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2. Authority
- Who published the document and is it the same as the "Webmaster?"
- Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this document?
- Does the publisher list his or her qualifications?
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Authority
- What credentials are listed for the
authors)?
- Where is the document published? Check URL domain.
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3. Objectivity
- What goals/objectives does this page
meet?
- How detailed is the information?
- Are the opinions (if any) clearly labeled?
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Objectivity
- Determine if page is a mask for advertising; if so information might be biased.
- View any Web page as you would an infommercial on television. Ask yourself why was this written and for whom?
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4. Currency
- When was it produced?
- Is it up-to-date'
- How up-to-date are the links (if any)?
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Currency
- How many dead links are on the page?
- Are the links current or updated regularly?
- Is the information on the page outdated?
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5. Coverage
- Are the links (if any) evaluated and are they related to the documents' theme?
- Is it all images or a balance of text and images?
- Is the information presented cited correctly?
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Coverage
- If page requires special software to view the information, how much are you missing if you don't have the software?
- Is it free or is there a fee, to obtain the information?
- Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a suggested browser for better viewing?
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Reviewing the criteria
- Accuracy: Does the page lists the author and institution that published the page and provide a way of contacting the author. . .
- Authority: Does the page lists the author's qualifications? Is the domain is.edu, .gov, .org, or .net?
- Objectivity: Does the page provide accurate information with limited advertising?
- Currency: Is the page current? Does the page clearly states when it was last updated? Are the links up-to-date?
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