Evaluating Online Information

Evaluating Online Information
Is it credible?
o Is the author of the page clearly identified? Do they have the credentials for writing about this topic?
o Is the author affiliated with n organization? If so what is the nature or purpose of this organization?
o Is there a link back to the organization’s page or some other way to contact the organization and verify its credibility? (a physical address, phone number, or email address)
o Are the purposes of the page clear?
o Is it geared for a particular audience or level of expertise?
o Is the primary purpose to provide information? To sell a product? To make a political point? To have fun?
o Is the page part of an edited or peer-reviewed publication?
o Does the domain name provide you with clues about the source of the page?
o Does the site provide details that support the data?
o Is there a bibliography or other documentation to cor4roborate the information? When facts or statistics are quoted, look to see whet5her their source is revealed.




Is it accurate?
o Are there obvious typographical or spelling errors?
o Based on what you already know or have just learned about this subject, does the information seem credible?
o Can factual information be verified?
o Is it a comprehensive resource or does it focus on a narrow range of information? Is it clear about its focus?
o Has the site been evaluated?


Is it timely?
o Is it clear when the information was published? Is it current?
o When was the page updated?
o If there are links to other Web pages, are they current?


Is it objective?
o Is the source of factual information consistent and stated clearly?
o Does the page display a particular bias? Is it clear and forthcoming about its view of a particular subject?
o If the page contains advertisements, are the ads clearly distinguishable from the content of the information?
Source: University of Texas System Digital Library, The University of Texas at Austin