List of 25 C's for Evaluating Religion Internet Sites

(Adapted from Bigchalk Tech Tips: How to Evaluate Web Resources. August 30, 2002 E-newsletter.)

YES / NO
  1. Credibility: Who's the author? Is there information about the author? Can you find it? Is the author a current Catholic?

  1. Credentials: What qualifications does the author have in this subject? (Is the author a college student or a professional theologian? Is there evidence that the author is knowledgeable in the topic in terms of education, training, and work experience? If this is theological material, is the author in good standing with the Church?)

  1. Contact & Communication: Can the author or Webmaster be contacted with comments or questions?

  1. Clues: Where is the Web site/page located? (Look at the Web address of the site/page. Does the domain name end in .com, .gov, edu, etc.?) Did a company publish these pages (editorial process) or an individual (no editorial process)?

  1. Commendation: Has the site been recommended or reviewed by a reliable source, such as a magazine or online directory of quality K-12 sites like Sadlier's Weblinks (Go to: ?

  1. Content: What is the purpose of the information? (Is it serious or humorous, professional or amateur?) Is it valid information, or a thinly disguised commercial? Is it genuine and trustworthy, or is it mostly opinion, or biased? Is it fair, offering a balance argument, not slanted or selective? Does it encourage thoughtful assessment, or are there sweeping statements or excessive claims?

  1. Catholic: Is this Catholic content or is this information that reflects an ecumenical understanding of religious tradition and teaching? What Catholic theology will this content reflect - Vatican II? Tridentine? Pre-Vatican II? Other? Does the content reflect the Catholic teaching that is represented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the General Directory of Catechesis?

  1. Coverage: What is the scope? Is the topic covered in depth? Is it full and comprehensive, or is it trivial?

  1. Copyright: What is the copyright? Is this current material or dated material?

  1. Comprehension: What is the level? (Is it too academic, too complicated, too long?)

  1. Critical Thinking: Do you accept everything, or do you think about how useful it is first? Can you treat these pages the same way you would treat a published book or other printed source? Does it answer the question or does it drift from the main topic?

  1. Citation: Do you respect the fact that this is someone's work? Is it stated that it is 'public domain,' or is it protected by copyright? Do you give credit to the author? Do you keep a record of the source?

  1. Currency: Has the information been updated recently? Has it been pruned and 'dusted' so that it's fresh? (does the site/page list a "updated last" date?

  1. Continuity: Will it continue to be updated? Or might it be 'orphaned'? Can you rely on it over time? (Does the site/page contain language that it will be updated every so often?)

  1. Connectivity: Does access require special software? If it is popular, and therefore busy, will it be accessible in the time you have? Is the site 'viewable' by most Web browsers? Do the links still work?

  1. Clarity: Is the design appealing, with elegant simplicity, or is it fussy, crowded or complicated? Do too many fancy or large graphics make it slow to load? Do special features enhance or hinder?

  1. Context: No matter how deep you go within the site, can you return to the home page to determine the source? Hs the author shown where all of the information came from?

  1. Cruise Control: Does every page have navigation buttons or links to get around? Is there a site map, table of contents or outline of topics/site map? Is there a lot of information, is there a search function?

  1. Completeness: Is there a comparable source, either online or in the real world? Is the Internet version complete, or partial?

  1. Correctness: Are the facts correct? Web sites can contain unchecked information. How will you know? Does the page/site provide guidance?

  1. COPPA (Child Online Privacy Protection Act): If the site is intended for a child, are they asking a child under the age of 13 to reveal personal information without parental permission?

  1. Quality Control: Has it been proofread, checked and edited? Is the spelling correct? Is it reliable?

  1. Compassion: Are people treated with fairness and tolerance? Or can you see bias, stereotyping, loaded language, racism or other hurtful ideas?

  1. Care & Caution: Do you remember to keep an eye open in case something isn't appropriate for you?

  1. Comparability: How does this online information fit into your subject and search? Would it be easier to use another source for a particular question, or does the Internet fill a gap? Before you start searching, do you think about your research needs and decide what sources might be best to fill your information needs without creating overload?

Note: Bigchalk reprinted and adapted from Roche, Maggie. "Elementary CCs for evaluating internet sites." May Gibbs Memorial Library, Neutral Bay Public School.