Not all sources of information, whether print or online, are equally valuable or reliable. You want to make sure that any web pages you use are HIGH-QUALITY and contain a lot of good, useful information. There is no way to tell instantly if a web page is high-quality or not. You just need to look at it very, very carefully.
It's helpful to understand the difference between a "web page" and a "web site." When we say "web page," we mean one specific document or article, almost always part of a larger web site. Its URL includes characters after the domain such as .com, .edu, .gov,.org, and so on. Example: a web page containing information on the treatment of cancer, https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment. A web site is the "umbrella" the web pages fit into, and its URL ends with the domain. Example: the National Cancer Institute, https://www.cancer.gov
| AUTHORITY |
- Is the author (if identified) an expert in this field? Can you find the author's credentials?
- Does the organization responsible for the site have any expertise?
- Look at the URL. What type of domain is it (.com, .edu, .gov,.org or something else)?
- Is there contact information, and how complete is it?
- Is there a page describing the purpose of the overall website ("About Us" or similar)?
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| OBJECTIVITY |
- What is the purpose of the overall web site, or the specific web page: to inform with facts or data; to sell something; to persuade you; or something else? Does it appeal to your brain, or your emotions?
- If there is a specific point of view, what is it and how does it affect the usefulness of the information?
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| ACCURACY |
- Can you tell where the information comes from: are the sources for all facts, statistics and graphs clearly stated?
- Is the information consistent with other sources?
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| CURRENCY |
- What is the date of the information?
- If there's no date given, look at the most recent update or copyright date, though that might not apply to your specific page, and check to make sure all links work.
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| COVERAGE |
- Is the information complete and freely available?
- Is there enough useful information on your topic for the web page to be helpful?
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