Evaluation criteria

Here are some points to consider when evaluating information found on the Internet. The process of evaluation should not be new to you. These are familiar criteria that you have probably applied to the evaluation of traditional print information.

• Authority/Authorship
• Accuracy
• Objectivity
• Currency
• Content

Now let's examine each of these points separately. What are the questions you should ask?.

Authority /authorship

• Is the author identified?
• What are the author's credentials or qualifications? Is this an expert on the subject, someone with professional standing in the field, or someone with an enthusiasm for the subject? What authority does the author have to present this information.
• Is the creator affiliated with an institution, organization, or company?
• Does the author supply information about his/her background or give an email address?

Some help answering these questions: If the author is not identified on the page presented to you in your search, you may be viewing pages out of context. Move back to the homepage for the site. You can do this by examining the URL or address for the page. Drop the pathname at the end of the URL and connect to the main server address without a pathname. By viewing the initial page or homepage for a site, you may be able to determine authority/authorship.

Accuracy

• Is there editorial oversight and fact checking at this site?
• Is the information presented as fact or opinion?
• Can the information be verified in other sources?

Objectivity

• What is the purpose of the author? To inform, entertain, educate, sell a product, promote an idea, influence or sway opinion?
• Who sponsors the site? An organization? educational institution? Commercial enterprise? What is their intent or agenda?
• Is any bias evident?

Currency

• When was the information last updated? Has the site recently been maintained or updated?
• Are the links to other pages active? If links do not work, the page may not have been updated recently.

Content

• To what depth is the subject matter covered?
• Does the site provide information of its own or consist of links to other sites?
• Is the information presented in a well written manner with good organization, grammar and spelling?

These are some questions you should ask when evaluating an internet source of information. Be a critical consumer of information.