Anyone can mount a web page, given the appropriate software, hardware, and communications links. Unlike the printed world there are no editorial boards or editors of information published on the Internet to assure quality. If one is to use material found on the Internet one must learn to critically evaluate the information.

The following is a list of criteria you should consider when assessing the quality of Internet resources. Remember, one must not make the mistake of confusing the quality of presentation with the quality of content.

Authority:
• Do you know who mounted the site?
• Is the author’s name clearly visible?
• What are the credentials of the author(s)?
• Is the author an authority in the field?
• Is the institution / organization / person responsible for the site reputable?
• Are sources of information stated? verifiable?
• Is a bibliography included?
• Can you contact the author/organization for clarification?

Purpose:
• Is the purpose of the site clearly defined?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information provided relevant to your research topic?
• Does the information meet your specific need?
• Is there a print equivalent to the site? If so, is the same information covered?

Accuracy:
• How accurate is the information?
• Is the information verifiable?
• Are sources cited?
• Are additional sources of information provided?
• Does the tone or style of writing lead you to suspect the accuracy?
• Are good grammar, spelling, and composition rules followed?

Objectivity:
• Are various viewpoints presented?
• Is the information overly biased or slanted?
• Does the page contain advertising?
• Is the objectivity portrayed consistent with the purpose of the site?

Scope:
• Are all aspects of the topic covered?
• How detailed is the coverage of the topic?
• Is coverage limited to a specific period of time?

Currency:
• What is the date of the information?
• When was the page last updated?
• Are links current and reliable?
• Do the charts and/or graphs have dates?
• Is there other evidence that the site is maintained? ie. dates of articles, dates of comments, etc.

Gilster, Paul. Digital Literacy. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997.

Grassian, Esther. "Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources." 20 Feb 1997. Online. Internet. [June 15, 1997]. Available WWW: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/instruct/critical.htm

Harris, Robert. "Evaluating Internet Research Sources." 16 Jan 1997. Online. Internet. [March 28, 1997]. Available WWW: http://www.sccu.edu/faculty/R_Harris/evalu8it.htm

Kirk, Elizabeth E. "Evaluating information found on the Internet." 1996. Online. Internet. [June 15, 1997]. Available WWW: http://milton.mse.jhu.edu:8001/research/education/net.html

Silberg, William M., Lundberg, George D., and Musacchio, Robert A. "Assessing, Controlling, and Assuring the Quality of Medical Information on the Internet," JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 227:1244-1245, April 16, 1997. Also online at: http://www.ama-assn.org/public/journals/jama/ed7016x.htm

Tillman, Hope N. "Evaluating Quality on the Net." 18 May 1997. Online. Internet. [June 15, 1997]. Available WWW: http://www.tiac.net/users/hope/findqual.html