Evaluating Websites: Evaluating Websites

Source Currency

• Are the owners/producers of information clearly identified?
• Is contact information provided?
• Are the qualifications/credentials of authors listed?
• Does the URL end in: .gov, .edu, .org, gc.ca? 
• Is the information current?
• Is a date, other t​​han the copyright included for updated information?   
• Are dead links present? 
• Purpose​ ​accuracy. Why is the information being provided?
• Is it academic, political, sales, or entertainment?
• Are any funding or advertising partners disclosed? ​
• Are there errors such as spelling or grammar?
• Is the information correct and without bias?
• Are sources cited? Is the information complete?​ 

Scope Usability

• Is the coverage superficial or in-depth?
• Are external links available for additional information?​
• Is the site easy to navigate?
• Is the information organized logically?
• Does the site have an internal search function?

For Additional Instruction 

• Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine For Patients:​ Medline Plus: Online Health Information - What can you trust?

​Sources

• Hock, R. The Extreme Searcher's Internet Handbook: A Guide for the Serious Searcher (4 ed.) Medford, NJ: Cyberage Books, 2013. 
• Assessing, controlling and assuring the quality of medical information on the Internet. Silberg, WM et al. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1997, 277(15):1244-45. ​​