The World Wide Web contains a wealth of information, but it has no standards that guarantee quality. Anyone can "publish" on the Web. Since the Internet has no quality control standards, the responsibility for critically evaluating the information retrieved becomes very important and falls entirely on the user.

When doing research, the Internet should be used as one possible source of information, not the only source.   A great deal of valuable information continues to be published only in books and periodicals.

Evaluation Criteria:

Authority

• Who wrote the page? Is the author's name listed?
• If the author is an expert, are his or her credentials provided?
• Is the author an expert in this field?
• Is the site sponsored by a reputable organization?

Accuracy

• If you have any knowledge of the subject, does the content of the site seem accurate?
• Are sources cited in a bibliography?
• Are there obvious spelling and grammar errors?  If so, do not use the page.
• Does the information found on the page correspond with what you have learned from other sources?

Objectivity

• Does the information seem biased?  If the page relates to a controversial topic, are both sides of the argument represented evenly?
• Many biased pages will feature strongly worded statements, which are often supported by evidence and documentation.  Often it is useful to locate the documented sources and draw your own conclusions.
• What is the purpose of the site? Advocacy? Marketing? Entertainment? Educational?

Currency

• When was the information actually written?
• When was it last updated?
• How current are the links?

Coverage

• Is subject coverage in-depth or superficial?
• Who is the intended audience? Subject experts? Lay people? Grade-school students?  Be sure to use an appropriate source.

What does the URL mean?

The URL is the web address for the site. For example, the URL for the Watertown City School District is www.watertowncsd.org.

The 3-letter suffix (or domain) identifies the type of site to some degree and may help you determine the quality  of the information found there.

.edu      educational institution                                                    

.mil       military site                                                                  

.gov      government                                                                  

.int        international treaty organizations

.net       Internet infrastructure site **

.com     commercial or personal site **

.org      generally nonprofit organization **
 

 ** Any individual, organization, or company can choose to register their Web address as .com, .net, .org.
      In fact, they can register for all three.

Used with permission: 
Melvil Dewey Library, Jefferson Community College, Watertown, NY