University Library: Evaluate Sources: Assessing Websites

Questions to Ask About Information from the Web

What's in a Name ... Evaluate the URL

What is the domain?
Who published the site?
Does the header or footer (or a watermark or wallpaper) show the page's affiliation with a larger website?
Is there a link to the homepage where the document lives?
Is there a link to send a message to the webmaster?

Around the Edges ... Scan the Perimeter of the Page

Is there a “last updated” or “last modified” date on the page to determine currency?
Does the site offer more information through “about us” or “philosophy” links (for organizations) or “background” or “biography” links (for individuals).
Can’t find information about the author on the page? Use an Internet search engine to find out about them elsewhere.

Quality Matters ... Quality of the Information

Can the material on the site be corroborated elsewhere?
Are there links to other resources, footnotes, or bibliographies? Do they add credibility or authority to the material? Are they current?
If there are advertisements on the page, are they clearly differentiated from the content?

Sounds Like…Tone of the Page

Does the language used on the page suggest a specific ideology or agenda?
Why was the page put on the web: To entertain, inform, advertise/sell a product, influence views, share information?
Is it a parody or satire? Is the material exaggerated or humorous, or does it suggest an impossible argument?

Library Reference Databases

Keep in mind the University Library offers a multitude of reference materials that can be particularly useful when you need background information. Start your research with background information from one of our reference databases.

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Use Credo Reference to research specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias in topics such as accounting and finance, arts, biographies, business, economics, ethics and philosophy, history, literature, music, nursing, psychology, religion, science, and technology.
Gale Ebooks This link opens in a new window
Use Gale Ebooks when you're looking for information typically included in an encyclopedia, such as quick overviews of topics or events in history. It provides sources on various subjects, including art, business, education, history, literature, law, medicine, philosophy, religion, science, and technology.
Oxford Reference This link opens in a new window
Use Oxford Reference when you need to find definitions of words or encyclopedic entries of events. It contains specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias covering the humanities, social sciences, sciences, medicine, and law, and many entries include illustrations to help demonstrate concepts and meanings.
Sage Knowledge This link opens in a new window
Use Sage Knowledge to focus your social sciences research, including criminal justice, education, psychology, and sociology. It contains books, journals, videos, and reference materials, making it a good choice for both foundational and in-depth research.

Domain Names

The website domain is typically at the end of a website URL or address and can give clues about the publisher of the website.

.com

Commercial businesses and for-profit organizations; available for purchase by anyone

.edu

Educational institutions; can sometimes include personal student and faculty websites

.net

Organizations directly involved in Internet operations and those subscribers that publish their own websites

.org

Originally designated for non-profit organizations, but now available to anyone; typically used for organizations that don't fit other categories

.gov

United States federal government organizations

.mil

United States federal military organizations

~ (tilde)

Web pages created independently by individuals

country codes

A two-letter international standard abbreviation such as ".de" for Germany or ".uk" for the United Kingdom

Wikipedia?

Wikipedia may be a convenient source for quick information on a topic; however, it is not a reliable source for academic research. The Wikipedia site allows anyone to edit an entry and, by its own admission, is written largely by amateurs.