<p> Evaluation Criteria for Websites:</p><p>Basically the user needs to examine every web page with these criteria in mind: </p><p>1. Authority  Is the author or organization responsible for the page clearly identified?  Are the author’s credentials on the subject stated? o Are you able to identify biographical or background information on the author or organization.  Are you given contact information for the author?  Where is the website? gov, edu, com, org?  What is the author's relationship to the organization? o Is the author selling something?</p><p>2. Accuracy  Can the information be verified in other sources?  Were established research standards used?  Are references cited?  Is the document well constructed (grammar, spelling)?</p><p>3. Objectivity  Where is the website? gov, edu, com?  Is any potential bias acknowledged upfront? Are there advertisements on the site? Do the advertisements have a direct relationship to the content of the site?  Is the page or site promoting a particular viewpoint?  If site is interactive, are you informed about how any information you give will be used?  Are value statements made in absolutes (best, worst, 100%, etc.)?  Is information withheld and only views or facts supporting the sponsor presented? </p><p>4. Currency  Is the information clearly dated?  When was the last revision?  Are the site links up to date? </p><p>5. Coverage  What is the reading level of the material?  Are there references for more information?  Is the presentation appropriate for the target audience?</p><p>(over)</p><p> http://www.uab.edu/lister/evalnet.htm Different types of Web Pages There are some basic types of web pages. Each has a different purpose. </p><p> Advocacy usually an organization. The address often ends with .org  Business or Commercial usually trying to sell a product or service at .com  News such as a newspaper, magazine or television station. Often has a print counterpart.  Informational such as a dictionary, thesaurus, directory or a government organization. The address often ends in .gov or .edu .mil  Personal a page mounted by an individual. Usually but not always .com or .net</p><p>It is useful when evaluating Web pages to recognize their purpose. </p><p>An Advocacy Web Page is one sponsored by an organization (.org) attempting to influence public opinion (that is, one trying to sell ideas). </p><p>Business and Commercial pages must often be viewed like “infomercials” There purpose is to sell a product. </p><p>The purpose of a news page is to provide very current information.</p><p>An Informational Web Page is one whose purpose is to present factual information. These pages are sponsored by educational institutions or government agencies.</p><p>A Personal Home Page is one published by an individual who may or may not be affiliated with a larger institution. Anyone may publish a personal web page for any purpose. Although the URL Address of the page may have a variety of endings (e.g. .com, .edu, net), a tilde (~) is frequently embedded somewhere in the URL so the sponsoring organization may have no responsibility for the information on the home page.</p><p>What if I can’t find the author or sponsor of a web site? If there is no “Home” connection on a Web page it is sometimes necessary to track down the organization responsible for a Web page by shortening the address. </p><p> http://www.obligation.org/trashtv.html may be shortened to http://www.obligation.org to learn about the organization.</p><p>Who Is? http://www.allwhois.com/ or http://www.internic.net/whois.html lets you see who has registered the domain on the Internet. Not always informative but sometimes interesting.. Try searching: whitehouse.org to see the sponsor If you are suspicious about information you may want to “google” the author or the organization sponsoring the page. </p><p>Some of this information is copyright Wolfgram Memorial Library, Widener University, Chester, PA. Wolfgram Memorial Library,Widener University URL for this page: http://www.science.widener.edu/~withers/perspg.htm</p><p>(over)</p>