Evaluating websites for research

purposes
BY JEMMA KEEFE

Objectives
Learning Intentions:
 Examine websites for research purposes
 Discover the criteria for determining a credible website

Success Criteria:
 Complete the website evaluation criteria (table) for two websites

Instructions:
Make a complete copy of this document and save it in your own Google Drive.

You will investigate two websites. Complete the table for each website by answering the
questions in column 2. The answers can be written in dot point eg. Question - Is the
publication date provided? Answer - yes/no + the date

Website 1
http://www.historyonthenet.com/mongol-empire-overview/

Currency & · Is a publication date provided?  No

Coverage · Is the information up-to-date?  No
· Is the content of an adequate standard for  Too technical
your research or is it too simple, technical
or advanced?

Relevance · Does the content address the topic  Sort of

effectively?  No
· Are the key questions about your topic  Yes
answered within the content?
· Does the content provide information that
is new or useful?

Authority · Who is the author/creator?  Does not have it

· What are their credentials?  There is none
· Is there any indication of the author’s  No
education, other publications or  This is not provided
experience?
· Is contact information provided?

Accuracy & Quality· Does the information provide facts, data,  No

examples or quotes to prove or support  No
statements made?  No
 · Does the source analyse information in  There is none
order to reach conclusions?  The text is too
· Does the content cite sources and have a wordy
reference list to verify the information
presented?
· Is the information located in a scholarly
collection eg. Library, database or
reference material?
· Is the text easy to read? Too wordy? Too
formal? Too informal?

Purpose/Objectivity· Why was the information created?  It was created to

· Who is the information intended for? inform others about
· Does the author provide more than one Mongolia
point of view?  It is intended for
· Does the writing use inflammatory or adults
biased language?  No
 Yes

Website 2
http://www.historyextra.com/feature/medieval/5-strange-causes-death-medieval-
period

Currency & · Is a publication date provided?  Yes

Coverage · Is the information up-to-date?  Yes
· Is the content of an adequate  Too simple
standard for your research or is it too
simple, technical or advanced?

Relevance · Does the content address the topic  No

effectively?  Yes
· Are the key questions about your  It provided new
topic answered within the content? information
· Does the content provide information
that is new or useful?

Authority · Who is the author/creator?  Janie Bryant

· What are their credentials?  University of
· Is there any indication of the author’s Birmingham
education, other publications or  Yes
experience?  No
· Is contact information provided?

Accuracy & Quality· Does the information provide facts,  No

data, examples or quotes to prove or  No
support statements made?  No
· Does the source analyse information  No
in order to reach conclusions?  The text is easy to read
· Does the content cite sources and
have a reference list to verify the
information presented?
 · Is the information located in a
scholarly collection eg. Library,
database or reference material?
· Is the text easy to read? Too wordy?
Too formal? Too informal?

Purpose/Objectivity· Why was the information created?  To inform about 5

· Who is the information intended for? strange causes of death
· Does the author provide more than in medieval times
one point of view?  Young adults
· Does the writing use inflammatory or  No
biased language?  It uses biased language