Reasons to carefully evaluate web content:
No publishing standards compared to print materials
Low ration of educational content compared to commercial and personal content
Authorship and credentials of web page author(s) may be difficult to determine
Web Page producers can pay for placement in search engine results; pages may be retrieved out of context
URL Analysis
Looking at the URL (web address) in search results can help you choose useful pages with relevant content:
If a personal name, a tilde (~), percent sign (%), or the word “users” appear in the web address, there's a very high likelihood the page
is personal content. Domain names may indicate appropriateness for research topic; here's a list of typical domain names found in
search engine results:
.com = commercial
.org = Organization, usually non-profit
.edu = Educational Institution
.gov = Federal Government
.mil = Military
.net = Usually a network where you can purchase Internet service or storage space
There are also geographic extensions which define where the server is located which hosts the web page:
.ca = Canada
.se = Sweden
.jp = Japan
.au = Australia
WHO? / WHAT? / WHERE? / WHEN?
Who created the page?
Are the author's credentials listed?
Are the author's credentials related to the page topic?
What organization or entity sponsors the page?
Is page content supported by links or footnotes?
Can information be verified by a print source?
When was the page created and when was it updated?
Are all the links (if any) up-to-date?
Does the page show political or ideological bias?
Does the page include commercial or marketing content?
Why and for whom was this page created?
Is there a balance of images and text?
Is the writing style and vocabulary college-level, or something else?
Do links (if any) relate directly to the content of the page?
Given the breadth and depth of the content discussed, what do you think the purpose of the writing is (to explain, inform, persuade, etc.)?
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Does the full use of the page require extra software?
Is a recommended browser(s) listed?
Is a text-only option available?
Recommended Subject Directories: You may want to search the Librarian’s Index To The Internet or The Scout Report.
for authoritative web pages.
If you need an explanation of any of the terms used in this presentation, consult the Internet Glossary.
Gerald B. James Library, RCC, P.O.
Box 38, Wentworth, NC
Phone 336-342-4261 ext. 2247 • FAX 336-342-1203