Almost
anyone
can have a web page. So some information on the Web is biased,
undocumented, or
just plain wrong. You will need to evaluate web sites for accuracy,
audience,
authority, currency, objectivity, and purpose. Here is a checklist you
can use:
Accuracy:
- Does the author cite reliable sources
for his or her facts?
- How does the information compare with
that in other works written about this topic?
Audience:
- Who do you think the author/s of the
web site are trying to reach?
- Is there a particular group or segment
of society that the author/s are targeting?
Authority:
- What are the author's qualifications
for writing on this subject?
- Is he or she connected with an
organization that has an established reputation?
Currency:
- Does the web site include a
publication date or "last updated" date?
Objectivity:
- Is the author affiliated with a
particular organization that might have a bias?
Purpose:
- Is the author's purpose to inform,
e.g. provide new information, current events, etc?
- Is the author's purpose to explain,
e.g. describe a process, teach, etc?
- Is the author's purpose to persuade,
e.g. change your mind, convince you to buy, etc?
