Library Research Methods: How to Evaluate Websites

There are many websites that are appropriate for academic work such as sites from academic institutions, government organizations, and professional associations. Use search engines and subject directories to locate materials on the Web.  

Use Google Advanced Search to limit your results to a domain like .edu, .org or .gov

Information on the Internet varies in its reliability; before using information from a website, review these Website Evaluation Guidelines.

Use these Guidelines to Determine Credibility and Reliability
 

CRITERIA:

• Authority – WHO?
• Objectivity & Purpose – WHY?
• Accuracy of content – WHAT?
• Currency – WHEN?
• Coverage & Design – HOW?

Questions to Ask: 

For example, apply the following questions to these two sites and compare:  www.fda.gov and www.fda.com

WHO?

• Who is the author and what are their qualifications, expertise or credentials?
• Is the site from a reputable organization or institution?
• Is there contact information provided?
• What can the URL and domain tell you? For example: .com, .org, .edu,  .gov.

WHY?

• What is the purpose of the Web site?
• Is there a mission statement or "About Us" page? 
• Is the site balanced and objective? Is there a particular point of view or bias?
• Is there advertising and what kind? Is the site trying to sell you something?

WHAT?

• Does the site provide accurate factual information that can be verified?
• Are the sources cited? Is there a reference list or bibliography?
• Could the page or site be ironic, like a satire or a spoof?

WHEN?

• When was the site created and last updated?
• Are the links current and working?

HOW?

• Is the site easy to read, use and navigate?
• Is there a site map or a “Help” page? Is there a search function for the site?

A URL is a web address, the string of letters and/or numbers (usually starting with http or https) that lead you to a website. The letters after the final period refer to the website's Top-Level Domain (TLD) and is called a domain suffix (examples are .com or .org). 

.com

What is it? One of the most common domain suffixes, .com signals a Commercial website.  This is usually a website for a business or service, and its main objective is sales; many news websites are also .com sites. 

Should I use it?  Many news and company websites are .com sites. If your goal is to find news information or information on a company, these are your go-to domains. As with any website, be sure to analyze it carefully for bias and inaccuracies.

.org

What is it?  Websites ending in .org are Organization websites, usually for member organizations or nonprofits.

Should I use it?  Analyze .org sites carefully.  Many people assume .org means "reliable for research" - but they aren't necessarily! Many are biased toward a specific agenda they're pushing.  Basic contact information or mission/vision statements should be okay to use, but like any website, and especially if you have a socially or politically charged topic, be sure to analyze it carefully for bias and inaccuracies.

.edu

What is it?  .edu signals a page from a College or University website. 

Should I use it?  Most edu websites are informational, containing information about the college or university - but don't forget, universities also want you to attend! They may have missing or misleading information. Also, privately-owned pages from faculty or students might contain inaccurate information; usually these private edu websites have a ~ symbol somewhere in the web address. As with any website, be sure to analyze it carefully for bias and inaccuracies.

.gov and .mil

What is it?  Websites ending in .gov are pages from U.S. Federal, State, or Local Governments, including agencies; .mil websites contain information from the U.S. Military.

Should I use it?  .gov and .mil websites are generally acceptable for academic research papers, but be sure to check what if any vetting process has been imposed on given reports. As with any website, be sure to analyze them carefully for bias and inaccuracies.

You can make Google bring back results from specific domain suffixes by using the command site:.

After typing the word "site" followed by a colon (:), use the suffix with the period (for example, .edu). 

EXAMPLE:  PTSD site:.gov will return only those results about PTSD that are from .gov websites

You can also use the command to search Google for results from a specific website.  In this case, the command would be site: followed by a full or partial web address.

EXAMPLE:  PTSD site:www.ptsd.va.gov will return only those results about PTSD that are from the VA's PTSD website

Try it yourself!