ABCD of Website Evaluation
AUTHORITY
Who is the author? What are the author's credentials? Does the author have expertise in the area? Is the author associated with a reputable organization?
BIAS
Is the information balanced? Is it more opinion than fact? Is the page a presentation of facts or designed to sway opinion? Is a product, service, or idea being sold?
CURRENCY
When was the page last updated? Are the links dead? Is the information consistent with your knowledge in the subject?
DOCUMENTATION
Is information documented with references? Are the facts given supported with evidence? If statistics are provided, what is the source? Is the page free of spelling mistakes or other obvious mistakes?
CRAAP Test of Evaluating Sources
CURRENCY: the timeliness of information
How old is it? When was the information created, published or posted? Has the information been revised or updated? Is the information current or out of date for your topic? Are the links functional?
RELEVANCE: the importance of information for your needs
Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? Who is the intended audience? Is the information at an appropriate level? Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use? Does it seem credible? Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?
AUTHORITY: the source of the information
Who is the author/publisher/sponsor? Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given? What are the author's credentials to write on the topic? Is there contact information, such as publisher or e-mail address? Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?
examples: .com (commerical), .edu (educational), .gov (U.S government), .org (nonprofit organization), or .net (network)
ACCURACY: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content
Where does the information come from? Is the information supported by evidence? Has the information been reviewed or refereed? Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge? Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion? Are there spelling, grammar, or other tyographical errors?
PURPOSE: the reason the information exists
What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade? Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear? Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda? Does the point of view appear objective and impartial? Are the political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
CURRENCY: the timeliness of information
How old is it? When was the information created, published or posted? Has the information been revised or updated? Is the information current or out of date for your topic? Are the links functional?
RELEVANCE: the importance of information for your needs
Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? Who is the intended audience? Is the information at an appropriate level? Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use? Does it seem credible? Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?
AUTHORITY: the source of the information
Who is the author/publisher/sponsor? Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given? What are the author's credentials to write on the topic? Is there contact information, such as publisher or e-mail address? Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?
examples: .com (commerical), .edu (educational), .gov (U.S government), .org (nonprofit organization), or .net (network)
ACCURACY: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content
Where does the information come from? Is the information supported by evidence? Has the information been reviewed or refereed? Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge? Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion? Are there spelling, grammar, or other tyographical errors?
PURPOSE: the reason the information exists
What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade? Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear? Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda? Does the point of view appear objective and impartial? Are the political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?