INTRODUCTION

This is one example of a way to approach determining the quality of information resources. At the bottom of this page is a URL that provides links to many others. Find a strategy that suits you, but be sure to apply it to any information resource that you use.

GOOD INFORMATION IS VITAL

• Obtaining information is important to every aspect of our lives.
• Knowing the quality of that information is vital because it can affect the quality of our research, our wallet, our health, our educational and employment opportunities, and more.
• Example: If you use unreliable sources in writing a paper, then your paper will be unreliable, unbelievable, and will likely receive a bad grade.

WHY YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY EVALUATE

• We tend to want information online - Consequently, ensuring the quality of that information has become OUR individual responsibility.
• Anyone can put out information, particularly on the Internet - And it can be good, bad, erroneous, or deceptive.
• Information can contain errors - For example, errors in or bad medical information can endanger out health.
• Information may have an agenda - It may be intended to persuade, deceive, sell, scam, even scam, or lie to us.

WHAT TO EVALUATE: RELEVANCE

• Originality - Is the information original? -Does the web page or document contain original content (a "primary source"), or is the information copied, paraphrased, or compiled from another source or sources? If the materials come from other sources, what kinds of sources?
• Focus - Does the document or web page focus on the subject of your inquiry or is the information you need a small part of the contents?
• Expansiveness - Is the information interdisciplinary in its approach which may enlarge the range of relevance to your subject?
• Level of information - Do you need information on a subject suitable for a general audience ("popular" or "lay" information), or do you need high-quality academic or research information?

WHAT TO EVALUATE: COMPLETENESS

• Depth of information - Do you need basic information or a thorough subject discussion?
• Completeness - Does the document or web page provide all of the information that you need or only part? Is the information full-text, an abstract, or just a citation?
• Referral - Does it provide a bibliography of supporting and related materials or links to other web sites with further information on the subject?

WHAT TO EVALUATE: TIMELINESS

• Currency - Is the information current? This is particularly appropriate for news, scientific, technological, & medical information. Or does currency matter?
• Updated - Is the document or web page up-do-date? If a web page, is it revised frequently?
• Historical - If the document or web page deals with a historical issue, does the material properly cover that period of time and does it contain the latest research or knowledge on that subject?

WHAT TO EVALUATE: ACCURACY

• Edited - Did editors, the author's professional peers, or other experts verify the information before it was published in print or online?
• Validation - Are there other, authoritative sources that can verify the accuracy of the information?
• Documentation - Are there a bibliography, footnotes, credits, and/or quotations that can help document the quality of information?
• Internal Consistency - Are arguments or conclusions justified by the information presented?

WHAT TO EVALUATE: AUTHORITY

• Author - Who created the document or web page? Is the content original to the author? Does the author have the expertise, qualifications, or credentials appropriate to the contents?
• Publisher - Who published the document or web page? Is it a reputable publisher, periodical, organization, or person with known expertise on the subject?

WHAT TO EVALUATE: MOTIVE

• Objectivity - Does the document or web page seem to provide objective information on its subject, or is there a bias? Do other sources provide other viewpoints?
• Author's Goals, Motives, Purposes - Does the author want to inform, explain, educate, persuade, promote, sell, deceive, or have some other obvious or covert agenda?
• Publisher's Goals, Motives, Purposes - Does the person or organization who published the document , web page, or web site have an agenda?

WHAT TO EVALUATE: STRUCTURE

• Organization - Is it narrative, a list, a table, or other format?
• Special Features - Does it contain such materials as tables, illustrations, graphics, bibliography, indexes, glossary, Internet links?
• Subject Headings - Are subject headings included which can facilitate further research?

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EVALUATING INTERNET RESOURCES

Links to useful evaluation advice & tools are at: www.lib.vt.edu/research/evaluate/evalbiblio.html