Tips for evaluating web resources

Not all web pages are trustworthy sources of information. The following tips can help you assess the quality of internet sites.

Who?

Authority:

• Who wrote it?
• Are there any contact details?
• Is there an About Us statement to help establish the standpoint of the organisation or author?

URL: Check the web address for clues: e.g. .ac.uk is the code for UK universities; .gov.uk sites relate to Government departments.

What?

Scope: What is the purpose of the site - educational or promotional?

Style: Is it well presented and logical?

Sources:

• Is the information fact or opinion? 
• Is it accurate and properly referenced?

Currency: When was the site last updated?

Level: Is the level of detail sufficient or is the coverage too basic?

Links: Are links to other resources still working?

Where?

Location: Check the web address to verify the country of origin.

Linked: Did you reach this site from an authoritative source?

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