The student as researcher must rely on his/her
own critical analysis to determine the value of a web site as it pertains to
their research project or paper.
The LRC provides the following checklist excerpt
for students and teachers from the University of Southern Maine Libraries.
"Authority:
Is
the information reliable?
Check
the author's credentials and affiliation. Is the author an expert in the field?
Does
the resource have a reputable organization or expert behind it?
Are
the sources of information stated? Can you verify the information?
Can
the author be contacted for clarification?
Check
for organizational or author biases.
Scope:
Is
the material at this site useful, unique, accurate or is it derivative,
repetitious, or doubtful?
Is
the information available in other formats?
Is
the purpose of the resource clearly stated? Does it fulfill its purpose?
What
items are included in the resource? What subject area, time period, formats or
types of material are covered?
Is
the information factual or opinion?
Does
the site contain original information or simply links?
How
frequently is the resource updated?
Does the site have clear and obvious pointers
to new content?
Format
and Presentation:
Is
the information easy to get to? How many links does it take to get to something
useful?
What
is the quality of the graphical images? Do these images enhance the resource or
distract from the content?
Is
the target audience or intended users clearly indicated?
Is
the arrangement of links uncluttered?
Does
the site have its own search engine?
Is
the site easily browsable or searchable?
Cost and
Accessibility:
Is
the site available on a consistent basis?
Is
response time fast?
Does
the site have a text-based alternative?
How
many links lead to a dead-end?
Is
this a fee-based site? Can non-members still have access to part of the site?
Must
you register a name and password before using the site?
Other
Tips:
Check
the header and footer information to determine the author and source.
In
the URL, a tilde ~ usually indicated a personal web directory rather than being
part of the organization's official web site.
In
order to verify an author's credentials, you may need to consult some printed
sources such as Who's Who in America or the Biography Index.
Check
and compare the web site to others which are both similar and different."
