Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages
Wayne State University Library System

Evaluation of Web Documents                                                    
How to Interpret the Basics

• Accuracy of the Documents
  Who wrote the page and can you contact them?
  What is the purpose of the document/site and why was it    produced?
  Is this person qualified to write this document?

• Accuracy
  Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number.
  Know the distinction between an author and Webmaster.

• Authority of Web Documents
  Who published the document and is it separate from the Webmaster?
  Check the domain of the document and what institution publishes the document.
  Does the publisher list his or her qualifications?

• Authority
  What credentials are listed for the author(s)?
  Where is the document published? Check the URL domain.
  
   

• Objectivity of Web Documents
  What goals/objectives does this site meet?
  How detailed is the information?
  What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author?

• Objectivity
  Determine if the page is a mask for advertising; if so information may be biased.
  View any web page as you would an infomercial on television. Ask yourself why this was written and for whom?

• Currency of Web Documents
  When was it produced?
  When was it last updated?
  How up-to-date are the links?

• Currency
  How many dead links are on the page?
  Are the links current or updated regularly?
  Is the information on the page outdated?

• Coverage of the Web Documents
  Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the document's theme?
  Is it all images or a balance of text and images?
  Is the information presented cited correctly?

• Coverage
  If page requires special software to view the information, how much are you missing if you don't have the software?
  Is it free, or is there a fee to obtain the information?
  Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a suggested browser for better viewing?

• Putting it all together. . .
  Accuracy - If your page lists the author and institution that published the page and provides a way of contacting him/her, and . . .
  Authority - If your page lists the author credentials and its domain is preferred (.edu, .gov, .org, or .net) and . . .
  Objectivity - If your page provides accurate information with limited advertising and it is objective in presenting the information, and  . . .
  Currency - If your page is current and updated regularly (as stated on the page) and the links (if any) are also up-to-date, and . . .
  Coverage - If you can view the information properly - not limited to fees, browser technology, or software requirement, then . . .
  You might have a higher quality Web page that could be of value to your research!