CURRENCY: The timeliness of the source and the information

• When was the information posted?

• When was it last revised?

• Are links functional and up-to-date?

• Is there evidence of newly added information or links?

• Is the information still considered accurate? Has more recent research challenged this information?

• Don’t exclude articles or information because of the publication date; instead think about the currency and relevance of the arguments presented.

RELEVANCE/COVERAGE: The importance and scope of the information

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?

• Is the topic covered with sufficient depth and breadth? Is the information comprehensive enough for your needs? Are the complexities of your topic adequately addressed?

• Could you find the same or better information in another source?

• Is the information relevant to current scholarly discussions on the topic? Do scholars refer to this source?

AUTHORITY: The source of the information

• Is the author/sponsor clearly identified? Is contact information easy to find?

• What are the author’s credentials? Is the author knowledgeable in his/her field (based on employment, publications, sponsorship by reputable organizations).

• Has the author published works in traditional formats? (Look up the authors in Google Scholar.)

• Is the author affiliated with an organization? Does this organization appear to support or sponsor the page? (Google the authors and/or sponsoring organizations.)

• What does the sponsoring site (e.g. www.noaa.gov, www.uiowa.edu) and domain name (e.g. .com .edu .gov .org .net) reveal about the source of the information, if anything? 

ACCURACY: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content

• Where does the information come from? Can you verify any of the information in independent sources or from your own knowledge?

• Are the original sources of information listed?

• What evidence is presented to support claims made?

• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?*

• Does the language or tone seem objective and unbiased?

• Is the information free of spelling, grammar, and typographical errors? 

PURPOSE: The reason the web site exists

• Is the purpose of the page stated? Is the purpose to: inform? teach? entertain? enlighten? sell? persuade? Are possible biases clearly stated?

• Is advertising content vs. informational content easily distinguishable?

• Are editorials/opinion pieces clearly labeled?