APA Citation Style

Criteria for Evaluating Web Resources

Web users are encouraged to employ a healthy skepticism when visiting any site and to use criteria, such as those below, to gather evidence on the quality of the information in the Web site.
 

1. Authority: Who created the site?
          - What is their authority?
                - Do they have expertise or experience with the topic?
                - What are their credentials, institutional affiliation?
          - Is organizational information provided?
          - Does the URL suggest a reputable affiliation with regard to the topic--personal or official site; type of Internet domain (i.e., .edu: educational institution; .org: non-profit organization; .com: commercial enterprise; .net: Internet Service Provider; .gov: governmental body; .mil: military body)?
  

2. Objectivity: Is the purpose and intention of the site clear, including any bias or particular viewpoint?
          - Are the purpose and scope stated?
          - Who is the intended audience?
          - Is the information clearly presented as being factual or opinion, primary or secondary in origin?
          - What criteria are used for inclusion of the information?
          - Is any sponsorship or underwriting fully disclosed?
  

3. Accuracy: Is the information presented accurate?
          - Are the facts documented or well-researched?
          - Are the facts similar to those reported in related print or other online sources?
          - Are the Web resources for which links are provided quality sites?
  

4. Currency: Is the information current?
          - Is the content current?
          - Are the pages date-stamped with last update?
  

5. Usability: Is the site well-designed and stable?
          - Is the site organization logical and easy to maneuver?
          - Is the content written at a level that is readable by the intended audience?
          - Has attention been paid to presenting the information as error-free (e.g., spelling, punctuation) as possible?
          - Is there a readily identifiable link back to the institutional or organizational home page?
          - Is the site reliably accessible?

Used with permission from Kent State University Libraries, 9/09

Original guide developed by Stefka Tzanova