|
General Evaluation Critieria
|
Evaluation tips for the Web
|
| #1:
PURPOSE |
What is
the author's goal? What is the purpose of the publication? To inform?
To sell or
advertise? To
entertain?To persuade? |
- Look carefully for
hints that reveal the site's purpose
- Many sites are
supported by advertising that might influence the content
|
| #2:
AUTHORITY |
Who is
the author and what are his or her qualifications? Who is the
publisher? |
- It may be difficult
to determine author's or publishers & their qualifications
- Search for an
author or organization's name in Proquest, a library catalog or on the Web
|
| #3:
ACCURACY |
Is the
information accurate? How does it compare with other information? |
- Almost anyone can
publish on the Web and this work may not be verified by editors or fact
checkers
- Find statistics
from a variety of sources to confirm data
|
| #4:
OBJECTIVITY |
Is the
information biased? Does it promote one perspective above others? |
- Goals/aims of
persons or groups are often absent or unclear
- Who is the intended
audience? Watch for language or ads that attempt to persuade readers to a
particular point of view
|
| #5:
CURRENCY |
Is the
information recent enough for your needs? |
- Dates are sometimes
absent or misleading on the Web
- Determine if the
date indicates when web pages were created, revised or posted
|
| #6:
COVERAGE |
Is the
source complete enough for your needs? Is any information missing? |
- Often less in-depth
than print or other media coverage
- Web coverage may
provide unique features not available elsewhere
|
