EVALUATING WEB SITES
A great deal of information is available on the Internet. Unfortunately, there is no governing authority to make sure the information presented is true. This puts the burden upon the user to decide if the web site is fact or fiction. Here are some guidelines to help determine if a web site is trustworthy.
Author
Is it clear who created the site?
Are the individual or organization's credentials listed?
Is a mailing address, phone number or email address given?
Purpose - Why is the site here?
To inform you?
To convince you of a point of view?
To sell you a product or service?
To amuse or entertain you?
Accuracy
Are the facts easy to find and verify?
Are opinions expressed as fact?
Is the spelling and grammar correct?
Authority
Are sources cited?
Do other sites link to this page?
Currency
When was the page last updated?
How current are the links?
Objectivity
Is there an obvious or subtle bias, or is an agenda being advanced?
Is there a lot of advertising? What kind of advertising?
Does the bias affect the usability of the information?
What links are present, and where do they go?
Coverage
What topics are covered?
Are the topics covered in-depth?
User Friendly
Are the colors and layout of the page attractive?
Is the site easy to navigate?
Are the graphics slow to download?
Is a special plug-ins required to view the page?
Is there a search box to help find the required information?
Cost
Does the site require a subscription fee or other costs?
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