WebSavvy Research Guide: How do I evaluate the web sites that I find?

University Libraries
WebSavvy Research Guide
How do I evaluate the web sites that I find?

How do I evaluate the web sites that I find?

Currency

Check the date of the web page's last revision. Certain research (e.g., medical or legal topics) requires extremely timely information. However, depending on the topic, information from years ago may still be valid and helpful. Beware that dates may refer to when some or all of the information was gathered, published, or revised.
If no date can be located on the web page, check for dates or references to historical events within the body of the article.
Statistical information should be clearly dated. The text or notes should indicate the date and source of statistics

Reliability

Reliable information is written by someone with recognized experience in a subject field and/or by someone who cites research from experts. Locating the author's name and credentials on a web page is one step towards establishing reliability.
Identifying an institution or organization with which the author is affiliated also lends credibility to a source (examples of institutions and organizations include: The New York Times, American Medical Association, U.S. Census Bureau, University of Northern Colorado). Often, an organization or institution may be identified by the presence of a logo.
Another tactic for identifying organizations or institutions is to look closely at the URL. By erasing all of the information that follows the first single backslash (/), and click <ENTER>, you will find the home page for the responsible organization/institution.

This simplified address identifies the computer where the web site resides is known as a web site's domain.

Even if a web site's domain doesn't identify an organization or institution that you recognize, looking at a web site's domain can help you identify what type of organization is responsible for the web site.

Domain suffix	Type of institution	Example
.edu	educational institution	http://www.unco.edu/
.org	organization	http://www.coloradosymphony.org/
.mil	U.S. military	http://www.army.mil/
.gov	U.S. government	http://www.usda.gov/
.net	network	http://home.att.net/
.com	commercial site	http://www.bacardi.com

Web sites from countries other than the United States may be identified by using international country codes.
A tilde (~) in a URL often indicates a personal web page. Be especially wary of these.

If you question the accuracy of information on a site, verify that information from another source.

Check "about" pages to find out about organizations/institutions and content authors.

Use a general search engine to search for information about an author.

Use contact information (e-mail, phone numbers) to ask any questions that you may have.

Purpose

Carefully assess the author's intent. Note the author's point-of-view or bias.
Authors often select facts that strengthen their "side" or omit facts that are contrary to their point-of-view. Consider finding different viewpoints on an issue to balance your research.

Appropriateness

Does the web page contain technical or specialized language? If so, the article is probably written by experts in the field and may be more advanced than you need.
Does the web page contain information that is too general or too specific for your needs?
Does the web page contain poor grammar or misspellings? If so, you will likely want to find a more authoritative source.

For additional evaluation guidance, see "Getting it Right: Verifying Sources on the Net" (S. Pacifici, 1 Mar. 2002) or Evaluating Information Checklist (M. Norem and C. Gonzales).

University of Northern Colorado Libraries; Greeley, CO 80639
Contact: Sarah Naper, 970-351-1533, sarah.naper@unco.edu
Updated: 3/2/2006
Access this guide online @ http://www.unco.edu/library/guides/websavvy/weblit.