Skip to Main Content

Evaluating Resources: Webpages

Before you get started, remember . . .

Since almost anything can be put online, it is necessary to critically evaluate the information you find on the web. Web sites are often a blend of information, entertainment and advertising.

The internet is a great place to find both scholarly and popular sources, but it's especially important to ask questions about authorship and publication when you're evaluating online resources. If it's unclear who exactly created or published certain works online, look for Aboutpages on the site for more information, or search for exact quotations from the text in Google (using quotation marks) to see if you can find other places where the work has been published.

Evaluating Websites

  • Is the site up-to-date?

  • When was the information created or last updated?

  • Are the links expired or current?

  • Does the site have an author?

  • What are the author’s qualifications or expertise in the area?

  • Is the contact information for the author or the sponsor/publisher given?

  • What is the relationship between the author and the sponsoring institution?

  • Is the information accurate?

  • Has the information been edited/fact-checked?

  • Is the information verifiable?

  • Does the site document the sources used?

  • If the information is historical or biographical, are the dates of events accurate?

  • How does the information compare with what you already know?

  • Whose point of view/perspective is given?

  • Is the author simply promoting an agenda?

  • To what extent is the information trying to sway the opinion of the audience?

  • Is there advertising on the page?

Do a quick scan of the site. Can you determine its general purpose? Is it meant to:

  • INFORM
    e.g., about current events, new information, etc.

  • EXPLAIN
    e.g., teach, instruct, etc.

  • PERSUADE
    e.g., change your mind, sell you something, etc.

The domain name and the source of the URL web address of the page will indicate the site’s intended audience. Knowing this provides clues as to the site’s value and reliability.

Doman Meaning Example
.edu created at a college or university; remember this includes things like blogs written by students or faculty.  www.nd.edu
.gov created by an official U.S. Federal agency or office.  www.federalreserves.gov
.org varies - in most cases the site was created by a nonprofit organization or an individual.  www.npr.org
.com varies - in most cases the site was created by a for-profit organization www.amazon.com
.net varies greatly - often indicates that the site was created by a person, group, etc. that uses an Internet service provider www.earthlink.net
.mil created by the U.S. military www.usmc.mil

 

Most websites will fall into the following broad categories: 

  • Advocacy Web Pages: Sponsored by an organization attempting to influence public opinion (that is, one trying to sell ideas). The URL of the page frequently ends in .org (organization).
  • Business / Marketing Web Pages: Sponsored by a commercial enterprise (usually it is a page trying to promote or sell products). The URL of the page frequently ends in .com (commercial).
  • Information Web Pages: Purpose is to present factual information. The URL of the page frequently ends in .gov, as many are sponsored by government agencies. Information web pages may be sponsored by an educational institution. The purpose is either to inform prospective students or educate current students. The URL of the page will almost always end in .edu.
  • News Web Pages: Primary purpose is to provide extremely current information. The URL of the page usually ends in .com (commercial).
  • Personal Web Pages: Published by an individual who may or may not be affiliated with a larger institution. Although the URL of the page may have a variety of endings (e.g. .com, .edu, .net, etc.), a tilde (~) is frequently found somewhere in the URL.
  • Because web sites are creative with their presentation, layout, and styles, additional challenges may surface.
  • Search engines may retrieve pages out of context, so it is always important to return to the home page of a site to find the correct publisher and author information.