AAOCC—Four Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages

Criteria for Evaluating a Web Documents /

Ask Yourself…

1. Accuracy and Authority of Web Documents

  • You check for accuracy when you find an author or publisher to take responsibility for the information. If the author provides contact information such as email, address and/or phone number, he/she takes responsibility.
  • If research is being used, the author should provide a bibliography that supports what he/she is saying; this also helps the reader determine accuracy.
  • If there is no author given, determine if the page is associated with or published by a group or organization that is taking responsibility. The domain name may give clues to this.
  • Once you know who is responsible, check to see his/her credentials give the person authority to publish the information. What are the qualifications that this person or organization possess and are they prominent enough to be trusted?
  • The purpose of the document should be clear. Why was it produced?
  • The information needs to make sense and should be something that can be verified. Text should be free of errors and feel reliable.
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  • Who is the author?
  • Is there an address, phone number or email given? (Some way to contact author)
  • Who publishes the website? A publisher? An organization? A group with a biased viewpoint?
  • What is the URL and what does this tell you about the publisher of the site? .gov? .org? .net? .edu?
  • What qualifications does the author have? Or what qualifies the group to publish such information?
  • Is the information verifiable?
  • Is the text free of errors, well written and cited properly?

2. Objectivity of Web Documents
  • The goals and objectives of the document should be made clear.
  • The page should be objective or unbiased about the subject covered. Bias should be stated as such.
  • If the author’s opinions are stated, they should be well substantiated and should not be presented as fact.
  • The motives of the piece should be transparent.
  • View each webpage as if it were an Infommercial on television—be skeptical.
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  • Is the page a mask for advertising; if so, how might the information be biased?
  • Why was the page written (motives)?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Are opinions backed by accurate facts and information?

3. Currency of Web Documents
  • The information should be up to date and there should be an indication that someone is taking care of the site. For example, if a number of the links no longer work, this is one way to tell.
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  • When was it produced? Last updated?
  • How many dead links are there?
  • Is the information outdated?

4. Coverage of Web Documents
  • There is breadth and/or depth to the topics covered.
  • You should have not problem viewing the information properly—not limited to fees, browser technology, or software requirement.
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  • Is there breadth and/or depth to the topics covered?
  • Is the information free or is there a fee to obtain information?
  • Are you able to view the page or is software missing? Is that software free?

Sources: Kapoun, Jim. “Teaching undergrads WEB evaluation: A guide for library instruction.”C&RL News (July/August 1998): 522-523.

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