TeleHealth Information Resources


How to Evaluate World Wide Web Information

Introduction 

Savvy users of the World Wide Web understand that there is no organizing or central authority, peer review process, or quality control for information shared via the web. Therefore, every page which you view or rely on for information should be evaluated. This page will help you to think critically about web pages.

  • Information resources to help with evaluation:
    • Information Quality WWW Virtual Library: Evaluation of Information Sources - http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/evaln.htm is a clearinghouse site with links to many guides, review services rating systems, and essays on evaluation.
    • Medicine on the Net - http://www.mednet-i.com/ is the premier publication for evaluating medical sites on the World Wide Web.
    • Sample issue of: The CyberSkeptic's Guide to Internet Research - http://www.bibliodata.com/skeptic/skepdata.html - a publication directed at information professionals, but appropriate for anyone interested in the evaluation of web sites.
    • Sample issue of info TO GO - http://www.infotogo.com/ is directed toward educators and librarians, but would be useful to many others who use the World Wide Web as an information source.
    • Yahoo Internet Life - http://www.zdnet.com/yil/ is a popular guide to internet sites and services.

Many web sites make unsubstantiated claims or promote treatments with vague or scant evidence for their effectiveness. Often these sites have a conflict of interest because they also sell products related to their claims.  Below are some examples of these sites.

Determining the basic components of evaluation  

  • Use the acronym DOCTOr to remember the key categories to evaluate:
    • Design - the aesthetics and ease of movement around the site.
    • Other - cost of use, is the site rated or reviewed?
    • Content - the depth and quality of the information, its purpose and audience.
    • Technical - the technology requirements of the site, the effectiveness of the technology used.
    • Origin - the author and sponsor of the site, their qualifications for presenting the information, the date of the information.

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Questions to ask when evaluating information from the World Wide Web  

Design  

  • Does the page use color, graphics, backgrounds, or type styles which are attractive?
  • Does the page use color, graphics, backgrounds, or type styles which enhance (rather than detract from) the page?
  • Is the layout of the page appealing?
  • Is the page layout organized and logical?
  • Is the site easy to use?
  • Is the page free of typographical or spelling errors?

Other  

  • Is there a cost for the site?
  • Is the site rated by a reliable resource?
  • Is the site reviewed by a reliable resource?

Content - Some of the most important questions you should ask and answer about a page or web site:  

  • What is the purpose of this page? (business, entertainment, education, research)
  • Who is the intended audience? (information for the public, researchers, etc.)
  • What is the scope of the page?(selective, comprehensive)
  • If medical information or advice is given, is a disclaimer statement evident?
  • Is the information valuable or unique?
  • Can the information be verified by another source?(printed, newsgroup communication, another web page)
  • Are the links provided valuable?

Technical  

  • Does the page state what technology or plug-ins are needed?
  • Are links to sites that provide the plug-ins provided?
  • Does the page require technology that is not readily available?
  • Does the page require technology that can not be used on your computer?
  • Does the page warn the user of long file transfer times?
  • Does the page integrate multimedia appropriately?
  • Does the page engage and hold the viewer's attention through use of interactive technology?
  • Is the page reliable?
  • Do the links work?
  • Is communication with the site secure?

ORigin - This information is often contained at the header and footer of the page  

  • Who is the author of the page?
  • What are the author's credentials or qualifications for writing on the subject of the page?
  • Are the biases of the author clear?
  • Can the author be contacted via a mail to: link?
  • Who is sponsoring the page?
  • Can any information be gathered by examining the domain name? (sponsor, 3 letter type)
  • Is the information timeless? Or is the page regularly updated?

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Guides to evaluating information from the World Wide Web  

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Web evaluation services  

Browse the following sites for reviews of sites on a specific subject or look for a review of a specific site.  

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  This page was created by:
Lynne M. Fox, Outreach Librarian
Denison Memorial Library 
Email: Lynne.Fox@uchsc.edu, Phone: (303) 315-4299
University of Colorado Denver
Box A003, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80262

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Ellie.Greenberg@uchsc.edu