Critically Reviewing a Web Page

Ask these basic questions of any web page/site before using it as a research source:

1. Accuracy
   How reliable and free from error is the information? Are there editors (named)?
   Almost anyone can publish anything on the web. There are usually no editors or fact checkers.
2. Authority
   Who is writing this information? What qualifications does he/she have in this area? Often difficult to determine authorship of web pages. Even if author is listed, his/her qualifications usually lacking.
3. Objectivity
   Is the information presented with a minimum of bias? To what extent is the information trying to persuade the opinion of the audience? Goals/aims of person or group often not clearly stated. Web pages often function as a "virtual soapbox."
4. Currency
   Is the content clearly up to date? Is the publication/update date clearly visible? Date not always included on a web page. If a date is included it could mean several things: date information first written, date information first placed on web, or date information last revised.
5. Coverage
   What topics are included in the work? Are the topics covered explored in depth? Web coverage often difficult to determine. Web pages usually always "under construction."

Other Potential Problems with Web Pages

• Blending of information, entertainment, and advertising
• Instability of Web Pages. A page here today may not be here tomorrow.
• Susceptibility of Web Pages to alteration. Who really wrote that stuff?
• Use of hypertext links. Links on a bad page may link to a good page and vice versa.

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This web page produced by Jerry Seay of the Robert Scott Small Library at the College of Charleston, SC.
Last updated: 1-30-98
URL:http://www.cofc.edu/~seay/english/webcritical.html
Most of this information was taken from the web site at Widener University/Wolfgram Memorial Library ;
Evaluating Web Resources at http://www.science.widener.edu/~withers/webeval.htm.