Evaluating Websites According to CARP

1. EVALUATING WEBSITES FOR
SCHOLARLY USE
Kate Garner

2. CURRENCY
When discerning a website’s currency, The University of Edinburgh
Library (2015) suggests asking yourself four questions:
1. Is it clear when the information was published?
2. If so, is it current information? It hasn’t been superseded by new
information?
3. Is the website updated regularly?
4. Are links to other pages active?

3. AUTHORITY
• The University of Illinois Library (2016) advises that you find out as much
information as possible about the author of the website:
• Do they identify themselves? Can you easily find out about their
credentials and experience?
• Is there a way of contacting the author listed on the website?
• Sometimes the author of a webpage will be an organisation. Ensure that
they are a credible source on your topic. E.g. The British Library website
will be more authoritative than the website of a local amateur history
club.

4. RELIABILITY
1. Consider whether the information on a website is objective
and accurate. You might do this by comparing it to another
website you already know is authoritative or by checking if it
includes a reference list or bibliography (University of Illinois
Library, 2016)
2. Analyse the URL:
• URLs ending in .gov or .edu generally indicate a reliable source
• .org and .net require caution
• .com is usually not appropriate for scholarly research (Charles Sturt
University Library, 2015).
• Remember: if you’re using primary sources you need to trust
the website so you can trust that what you’re reading are really
Woolf’s letters/diaries/manuscripts.
YES
NO
Hiebert, 2011
Lewis, 2010.

5. PURPOSE
• Who is the intended audience of this website? Is it appropriate for
tertiary students? Is it appropriate for scholars?
• Does it contain advertising? Is it designed to make the author of the
website money?
• Does the website have a political or commercial bias? (University of
Edinburgh, 2015)
YES NO
Sparknotes, n.d.
Flint, n.d.

6. REMEMBER:
• If a website doesn’t seem scholarly, it probably isn’t.
• If you’re unsure, check with your lecturer or contact the Library via email
or online chat.

7. REFERENCE LIST
University of Edinburgh Library. (2015). How to evaluate website content. Retrieved from
http://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/library-museum-gallery/finding-resources/library-
databases/databases-overview/evaluating-websites
University of Illinois Library. (2016). Evaluating Internet Sources. Retrieved from
http://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/webeval.html
Charles Sturt University Library. (2015, September 8). How to evaluate internet sources. [Video file]. Retrieved
from https://apps.csu.edu.au/reftool/apa-6/world-wide-web#online-video
Sparknotes. (n.d.). To the Lighthouse Analysis of Major Characters. Retrieved from
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/lighthouse/canalysis.html
Flint, Kate. (n.d.). An introduction to To the Lighthouse. Retrieved from https://www.bl.uk/20th-century-
literature/articles/an-introduction-to-to-the-lighthouse
Lewis, P. (2010). The Modernism Lab at Yale University. Retrieved from
https://modernism.research.yale.edu/data_wiki/data_wiki.php?action=object&value=2652&title=Virginia_Wo
olf
Hiebert, P. (2011). 59 Things You Didn’t Know About Virginia Woolf. Retrieved from
http://flavorwire.com/143610/59-things-you-didnt-know-about-virginia-woolf