Website Evaluation Questions List
Presented below are some questions to ask when assessing or evaluating a Web site. For an explanation of these criteria, see Web Site Assessment and Evaluation.
Criteria for Assessing the Quality of Information on a Website
These five criteria are useful for assessing the quality of a site as a resource, as well as evaluating the quality of a site's content. They come from the following college library sites: http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html, and http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webcrit.html
1. Is the information accurate?
- Is the information reliable and free of errors?
- Are there spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes?
- Can the facts be verified in another source?
- Is there an editor or someone to verify the information presented?
2. Who is the author and what are his/her credentials?
- Is it clear who the author is?
- Is the author a qualified expert with credentials listed?
- Is there contact information or an email address included?
- Where is the document published (.edu, .org, and .gov are preferred)?
- Who is the sponsor of the site?
- Are there advertisements?
3. How objective is the source?
- What kind of bias (explicit or implied) does the page have?
- What are the opinions expressed?
- Is the page an advertisement?
- Are there obtrusive pop-up windows?
- Is the advertising clearly differentiated from the informational content?
- Is it clearly stated why the page was written and for whom?
- Is the information presented objectively?
4. How current is the information?
- Is the page dated?
- When was the last update?
- Are the links current or have they moved or expired?
- Is any information on the page outdated?
5. How extensive is the coverage of information?
- What topics are covered?
- Is the purpose and scope of the site clear?
- How comprehensive is the site?
- How in-depth is the material?
- Is the information useful?
- Is the site easy to navigate?
- Does it contain an index, site map or FAQ?
- What does the page offer that is not found elsewhere?
- How interactive is the site?
- Is there a balance of text and images?
- Does the site back its arguments with specific evidence?
- Is the information cited correctly?
- Was permission or licensing obtained for the use of copyrighted images and multimedia?
- Are there fees for obtaining the information?
- Can the information be viewed properly?
Criteria for Evaluating the Quality of a Website
The criteria below are loosely taken from http://www.worldbestwebsites.com/ judging criteria, which has a five star points system for determining the "best" sites on the Web.
1. How universally accessible is the site?
- Does it load quickly?
- Is it viewable in different browsers?
- Is it viewable in different operating systems?
- Is it available for people with disabilities?
- Can it be understood by people with various levels of education and/or from different cultural backgrounds?
2. Is the site well-designed?
- Is there an over-all integration of design throughout the website?
- Does the design allow for easy navigation?
- Is it visually appealing?
- How is the use of spacing, layers, tables, borders, dividers and backgrounds?
- Is the page design overwhelming or confusing?
- How appropriate is the use of color and shapes?
- Is there a unified feel to the site?
- Is the font readable?
3. Does the site contain high quality content?
Use the Criteria for Assessing the Quality of Information listed above: accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, and coverage.
4. Are Internet technologies fully utilized?
- Does the way in which technologies are used fit with the purpose of the site?
- Are there uses of technology that detract from the site's purpose or appeal (i.e. long FLASH intros, obtrusive use of sounds and animations, etc.)?
- Are multimedia aspects of the Web emphasized?
- Are interactive technologies used (i.e. chat rooms, bulletin boards, optional sound, video or games, surveys, search options, Java programs, etc.)?
- Is the site technologically impressive?
5. How original/creative is the site?
- How unique is the Web site?
- Is it distinguishable from other similar sites?
- Is the site distinct and memorable?
- Does the site offer things not found elsewhere?
- How much of the site is original material?