Evaluating Internet Sites

Because the World Wide Web is made up of the work of millions of people, information presented on the Web comes in a huge array, some accurate and some inaccurate. Because there is no standardization or editorial control, the consumer must be able to judge the reliability of the information. Here are some questions to ask yourself that will help you answer the question, " Can I trust this website?"

Who is the producer or author of the webpage? This should be clearly stated.

• Is there a phone number and street address in addition to an e-mail address?
• Is the person or institution named one that you recognize as reliable and accurate? Is there verifiable biographical information given?
• Are there clear internal links that help you identify the sponsor or author. They often say things like "about the author," "who we are," or quot;about the company."
• Are the author's credentials relevant to the information presented on the webpage?

Is the information objective or is it opinion or propaganda?

• Is the webpage free of emotionally charged language or does the page show a clear bias?
• Does the webpage present all sides of an argument in a fair manner? If not, does the author state that the page gives only one view?
• Does the webpage falsify, distort, or make outrageous claims about the ideas of others?
• Is the webpage a commercial site that is trying to sell you something. While the site might have reliable information, the true goal is to sell, not inform.

Is the information timely, accurate, and complete?

• Especially in science, medicine, and business, information that is a year or two old is suspect.
• Is the information given from a source that is known for reliability and can be verified for accuracy?
• Do other sites support or contradict the information given on this site? If many other sites contradict the information, be suspicious.
• Is the information complete? While any one page can't cover everything, does the site cover most major topics about the subject?
• Do links to related sources go to reliable sites?
• Is there a source you know of that is reliable against which you can test this page? This source could be a highly respected print source or another web site produced by a well-respected institution.

Does the webpage look like it is maintained on a regular basis?

• Does the information look old? Are the sources quoted recent?
• Is last date of revision stated on the page? This date should be current.
• Do the majority of links to other websites work. If not, the page is not being revised regularly.

Is the webpage well designed? Can you use it easily and in a logical way? Does it load quickly?

• Is the information easy to get to or is it drowned in a sea of bells and whistles?
• Do you have to click more than 3 times to get your information? More than 3 times is too many.
• Is the text well written without spelling or grammatical errors?
• Is there a good site map or search engine on the site? Are there good navigational tools for the site?

For additional sources of information on evaluating Internet sites, please see our list of suggested web links.

"Can I Trust This Website?"

Here's a checklist you can use to evaluate a website.