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How does one measure the quality of information on the WWW?
Very, very carefully! With the continuing, rapid proliferation of sources, it is obvious that all Web publications are not created equal. With no real quality control in many sites, e.g., no peer review, no editing, no review process at all, the critical evaluation of material becomes essential.
Measuring the value of information found, therefore, requires more effort from the reader since
each document needs to be analyzed according to appropriate criteria. Many academic institutions are developing
these criteria/guidelines, and the links presented here are a representative sample of recommended and useful sites.
A Good Place to Start:
- Evaluating Web Resources (Paula Hammett, Sonoma State University)
- Six concepts presented are (1) authority, (2) purpose and coverage, (3) accuracy, (4) timeliness, (5) integrity of information, and (6) objectivity or point of view.
GENERAL EVALUATIVE CRITERIA/GUIDELINES
- Checklist for Evaluating Web Sites (Collection Development Committee, Canisius College)
- A one-page checklist containing the following criteria: (1) content, (2) authority, (3) organization/presentation, (4) searchability, (5) accessibility, and (6) comparability.
- Checklist for the Evaluation of Information (Billie Peterson, Baylor University)
- A 37-item checklist under these four categories: (1) authority, (2) content and scope, (3) design, and (4) functionality.
- Critical Evaluation Surveys: Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators (Kathleen Schrock, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District)
- For teacher educators. Critical evaluation surveys are given for students at the elementary, middle, and secondary school level.
- Evaluating Web Information (Serena Jardine Fenton, University of North Carolina)
- (1) Scope, (2) audience, (3) author, (4) authority or publishing body, (5) currency, (6) treatment, (7) arrangement/ease of use are the seven criteria discussed.
- Evaluating Web Resources (Paula Hammett, Sonoma State University)
- Six concepts presented are (1) authority, (2) purpose and coverage, (3) accuracy, (4) timeliness, (5) integrity of information, and (6) objectivity or point of view.
- Evaluation Criteria (Susan Beck, New Mexico State University)
- From "The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly: or Why It's a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources." (1) Accuracy, (2) authority, (3) objectivity, (4) currency, and (5) coverage are Beck's criteria with the rationale for Web sites provided. Good site.
- Information Literacy:Guidelines for Evaluating Internet Resources (Lida Larsen, Academic Information Technology Services, University of Maryland, College Park)
- "The Web is not an encyclopedia" is how this discussion of information literacy and evaluative guidelines begins. Seven criteria given are (1) scope, (2) authority and bias, (3) accuracy, (4) timeliness, (5) permanence, (6) value added features, and (7) presentation.
- Ten C's for Evaluating Internet Resources (Betsy Richmond, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire)
- These are the ten C's: (1) content, (2) credibility, (3) critical thinking, (4) copyright, (5) citation, (6) continuity, (7) censorship, (8) connectivity, (9) comparability, (10) context.
- Why We Need to Evaluate What We Find on the Internet (Purdue University)
- This site looks at reliability and credibility, including author, accuracy, bias, and purpose.
ARTICLES
- Recommended articles which also contain evaluation criteria.
- Evaluating Internet Research Sources (Robert Harris, Southern California College)
- Evaluating Quality on the Net (Hope Tilllman, Babson College)
- Testing the Surf: Criteria for Evaluating Internet Information Resources (Alastair Smith, Victoria University of Wellington)
- Evaluating Internet Research Sources (Robert Harris, Southern California College)
BIBLIOGRAPHIES
- For additional information on evaluating the quality of Internet resources, consult these sources.
Evaluation of Information Sources (Alastair Smith, Victoria University of Wellington)
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