The focus here is on evaluating internet sites, but these criteria can apply to books, magazines and other sources.

For each criteria, a number of questions are listed to help in the evaluation process.

Authority

• What are the author's credentials?
• Does the author have expertise on the subject?
• What degree(s) does(do) the author(s) hold? From what college or university?
• Is the author a member of professional organizations? 
• Are they affiliated with any of the following: a university or college, government agency, publisher or press, or their own company?

Look at the source to see if it tells you anything about the author's credentials. Much of this information should be listed or a contact number supplied.

Many Internet sources do not give the identity or credentials of the author or producer. These Web sites may have questionable reliability.

Timeliness

• When was the information published?
• When was the web site last updated?

An older site may no longer be maintained and contain dated information and bad links.  In areas such as medicine, science, business, and technology, currency of information is important. In fields such as history and literature, currency may not be critical.

Documentation

In many publications, adequate documentation is not provided. The popular press rarely provides complete references where one could find further information. Internet sites may be even more guilty of this.

• Does the author refer to other works? 
• Does the Web page provide related links? 
• Is a bibliography provided? 
• Does the author support statements with data or references?

Purpose and audience

Most writing is initially aimed at a particular audience or has a purpose. The purpose, bias or audience need not be stated, but inferred by the reader. 

• Is the information presented indended to inform, persuade, present opinions, report research, or sell a product?
• For what audience is it intended? The general public, professionals, students.
• Is it popular or scholarly?
• Does it show any bias?

How can I find out?

Determine whether the Web site is produced by an organization and if so, the purpose or mission of that organization. 
You can usually determine by careful reading if the purpose is to sell a product or promote a particular point of view.

Review process

Scholarly publications, even those published on the Web, are typically peer reviewed. Experts in the area first determine the credibility of the findings or writing before it can be published. The process is rigorous. Most popular publications are not peer reviewed.

• Was there any review process at all? 
• Was it critically reviewed after it was written?

How can I find out?

Many Internet sources are not reviewed before being posted; however, most government, educational, and organizational sites have some sort of review process. If no review process is stated or evident, assume there is none.  Journals, both online and print, almost always state their review process.

Suitability

• Does the source contain the information you need? 
• Is it written at a level you can understand? 

How can I find out?

Read the source. Assess the topic and the audience that it is aimed at.

Give it a try!

Click on the URL's below. Try answering some of the questions about authorship and bias discussed above.

http://www.anwr.org/ or http://arcticcircle.uconn.edu/ANWR/