| Criteria for Web documents |
How to Interpret the Basics |
1. Accuracy
- Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her?
- What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced?
- Is this person qualified to write this document?
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- Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number.
- Know the difference between author and webmaster.
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2. Authority
- Who published the document and is it separate from the Web master?
Check the domain of the document.
- What institution publishes this document?
- Does the publisher list his or her qualifications?
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- What qualifications are listed for the authors?
- Where is the document published? Check URL domain.
- Is there a Tilde (~) in the Web address, indicating a personal website?
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3. Objectivity
- What goals/objectives does this page meet?
- How detailed is the information?
- What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author?
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- Determine if page is a cover for advertising; if so information might be biased.
- View any web page as you would an infomercial on television.
- Ask yourself why was this written and for whom?
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4. Currency
- When was it produced?
- When was it updated?
- How up-to-date are the links (if any)?
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- How many dead links are on the page?
- Are the links current or updated regularly?
- Is the information on the page outdated?
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5. Coverage
- Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they support the documents' theme?
- Is it all images or a balance of text and images?
- Is the information presented cited correctly?
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- If page requires special software to view the information, how much are you missing if you don't have the software?
- Is it free or is there a fee to obtain the information?
- Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a suggested browser for better viewing?
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