Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources

by Esther Grassian, UCLA College Library

The World Wide Web has a lot to offer, but not all sources are equally valuable or reliable. Here are some points to consider.

Content & Evaluation

• Who is the audience?
• What is the purpose of the Web Page & what does it contain?
• How complete and accurate are the information and the links provided?
• What is the relative value of the Web site in comparison to the range of information resources available on this topic? (Note: Be sure to check with a librarian.)
• What other resources (print & non-print) are available in this area?
• What are the date(s) of coverage of the site and site-specific documents?
• How comprehensive is this site?
• What are the link selection criteria if any?
• Are the links relevant and appropriate for the site?
• Is the site inward-focused, pointing outward, or both?
• Is there an appropriate balance between inward-pointing links ("inlinks" i.e., within the same site)& outward-pointing links ("outlinks" i.e., to other sites)?
• Are the links comprehensive or do they just provide a sampler?
• What do the links offer that is not easily available in other sources?
• Are the links evaluated in any way?
• Is there an appropriate range of Internet resources -- e.g., links to gophers?
• Is multimedia appropriately incorporated?
• How valuable is the information provided in the Web Page (intrinsic value)?

Source & Date

• Who is the author or producer?
• What is the authority or expertise of the individual or group that created this site?
• How knowledgeable is the individual or group on the subject matter of the site?
• Is the site sponsored or co-sponsored by an individual or group that has created other Web sites?
• Is any sort of bias evident?
• When was the Web item produced?
• When was the Web item mounted?
• When was the Web item last revised?
• How up to date are the links?
• How reliable are the links; are there blind links, or references to sites which have moved?
• Is contact information for the author or producer included in the document?

Structure

• Does the document follow good graphic design principles?
• Do the graphics and art serve a function or are they decorative?
• Do the icons clearly represent what is intended?
• Does the text follow basic rules of grammar, spelling and literary composition?
• Is there an element of creativity, and does it add to or detract from the document itself?
• Can the text stand alone for use in line-mode (text only) Web browsers as well as multimedia browsers, or is there an option for line-mode browsers?
• Is attention paid to the needs of the disabled -- e.g., large print and graphics options; audio; alternative text for graphics?
• Are links provided to Web "subject trees" or directories -- lists of subject-arranged Web sources?
• How usable is the site? Can visitors get the information they need within a reasonable number of links (preferably 3 or fewer clicks)?

Other

• Is appropriate interactivity available?
• When it is necessary to send confidential information out over the Internet, is encryption (i.e., a secure coding system) available? How secure is it?
• Are there links to search engines or is a search engine attached to (embedded in) the Web site?

Created by Esther Grassian, UCLA College Library, 6/95.
Permission is granted for unlimited non-commercial use of this guide.