It is not always easy to determine if information on the World Wide Web is credible. However, using the guidelines below will help you in making that evaluation.

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AUTHORITY

• Who is the author of this page?

• What are their credentials?

• What institution are they affiliated with?

• Does the page conveniently display this information?

OBJECTIVITY

• What is the purpose of this page?

• Does the author state the goals for this site?

• Does this page inform, educate, persuade or act as a soap box?

• If the author is affiliated with an institution (government, university, business, organization, etc), does this affiliation bias the information presented?

ACCURACY

• A sloppy page (bad grammar, misspelling) indicates hastiness.

• It's always a good idea to cross-reference information no matter where you find it.

• Do graphics add or subtract from the content?

• Is the information complete or fragmented?

CURRENCY

• When was this page created?

• Is there a revision/creation date?

• Do the links work?

• Is the page maintained and new material added?

 

Remember to ask yourself:

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"Is the Web the best place for this type of information... would a print source or an electronic database be a better choice?" Double check with a Reference Librarian if you are unsure.
 

For more in-depth information, check out

• Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask from UC Berkeley - Teaching Library Internet Workshops

• C.R.A.P Handout for Evaluating Resources

• Evaluation During Reading Purdue OWL