There is no central authority to check the quality or accuracy of information found on the World Wide Web. Some sites are created by experts; for example, the LibGuide website has been created by professional librarians; but the vast majority are created by non-experts. It is therefore up to you to evaluate a site before you use it as an information source. Ask the following questions about a site and even when all seems to check out.
Check the authority and accuracy of the site to determine the credibility and reliability of the information.
• Who are the author / publisher of the site?
• Is there an email address or link to the author?
• Can author credentials/ qualifications be verified?
Check the currency of the site and whether it is updated on a regular basis.
• Are all the links intact?
• Is the site regularly maintained?
HOW helpful is the overall design of the site?
How well has the site been designed and how easy is it to use?
• Is it well designed and organised?
• Easy to read and navigate?
• Help screens available?
The URL (web address) provides clues to the authorship and authority of the site. For example:
• .com - commercial address
• .ac / .edu – academic institution
• .gov - government agency
• .org - non-profit organization
• .za - country-specific site (e. g. South Africa)
• .net - for network providers but is commercial as well
Look carefully at the content of the site to check if the information is mostly subjective (biased or opinionated); objective (factual) or both.
• Who sponsors the page?
• Distinguish between promotion, advertising and serious content.
• Check the links provided, e.g. a Vision or about our Organization link that might detail the purpose of the site.
• Check for spelling mistakes and factual errors