Web and Content Evaluation for English Research

Here is information on how to evaluate content on the web with the Internet being so open to other non-credible sources.  This will guide you on what to look for when determining whether or not an Internet source is valuable and credible.  Please refer to our other useful resources on other topics pertaining to English as you continue reading this page.

Evaluating Internet Websites

The Internet is a powerful resource with the potential to provide virtually unlimited information to anyone with access. Yet as the Internet evolves and more contributors gain access to websites and open source encyclopedias, it is important to exercise caution when taking information from online sources. People who aren’t necessarily qualified to speak on a subject can write anything they like on a subject, and then distribute that information online, regardless of its accuracy. Luckily it is usually pretty easy to tell whether or not a website is providing legitimate information. The first step to identifying good information from bad information is to assess the credibility of the source.

There are a few key features of a legitimate and potentially useful website. Websites that are well-maintained and edited will have dates listed for most information. Look for publication dates, the date last updated, and ignore dates that automatically adjust to be current. For instance, if a website claims to be an authority on new the dates posted should be most recent. In addition to current dates, look for a clearly identifiable author, or an obvious authority (the company for example) that has produced the information on the page. Sources which hide their identity are not to be trusted. Finally, while spelling and grammar mistakes may sneak in to the most legitimate websites, look for obvious and careless typos or grammatical errors which distract from the offered information.

While reading the information offered on a web page, it is important to read carefully and identify whether or not the information is accurate. To do this, identify whether or not the writing or configuration of the site communicates an authority on the subject. Information provided should be consistent with prior knowledge, and should be verifiable with other sources. The information should not communicate any personal bias on the subject, though an obvious, stated bias would be acceptable. In general the information provided should also be well-organized and should provide citations for non-general information like statistics or quotes.

Another important aspect to evaluating Internet websites is the general design and upkeep up the website. Anyone who has browsed for information online has come across broken links or partially completed websites—obvious features that weaken a website’s legitimacy. While the website design doesn’t have to be professionally made, it should function well. This means that information is easy to find, that navigating from page to page is logical, and that there is nothing distracting or unnecessary within the site’s design. Legitimate and useful websites will have a generally consistent design throughout the entire site, will contain only live links (or very few that are broken), and will integrate multimedia additions smoothly into the website.

Many times, web sites have flaws and quirks that may detract from the professional appeal of the site but don’t necessarily discredit the site as a potential resource. Though these general guidelines will help identify sites that are useful, legitimate, and accurate, it is important to use your best judgment for each individual website.