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Tutorials: Evaluating Websites

Watch these brief tutorials to learn how to get the most from the JIBC Library!

Evaluating Websites

It's important to evaluate any information you find online to ensure it is reliable and trustworthy. Use the elements and questions below to review a website before including it in your assignment. 

Questions to Ask:

Authority 
  • Is the author/producer easy to identify?
  • Are the author's credentials listed?
  • Is the author's affiliation easy to determine (e.g. university, government)
Content
  • Are there errors or discrepancies on the site?  
  • Is the content appropriate for your needs?
  • Is there sufficient coverage of the topic?
Currency
  • Can you find the date that the site was created?
  • Was the site updated recently?
  • Do the links on the site work?
Objectivity
  • Is the information factual or opinion?
  • Is the site trying to sell something that seems too good to be true?  
  • Is the information consistent with other sources you’ve found?
  • Is the source of the information provided?