This document provides guidelines for evaluating the reliability and accuracy of information found on websites. It discusses checking the author's credentials, references, grammar, comparing information across sites, the purpose of the site, coverage of topics, currency of information, and objectivity. Examples are provided of evaluating four different websites based on these criteria, such as checking for author details, date of updates, comprehensiveness, and inclusion of references. Overall, the guidelines aim to help assess whether online information is reliable, unbiased, and up-to-date.

1. Evaluating Web Sites
Accuracy of the Documents
First thing needs to be checked is, who wrote the page;
reliability of the author
Proper referencing, with the list of references
Basic grammar rules
Finally, compare the website with others to see if information is
related to validate if the information seems accurate.

2. WEBSITE EVALUATION( Jim, 1998), (Dalhouse University)
This is done in order to assess whether information in the
internet is reliable, unbiased and up to date.
The above is done in the following ways;
a) Accuracy of the documents; check on who wrote the page,
reliability of the author, contact information, proper referencing
together with the list of references, basic grammar rules and
lastly compare the website with others to see if information is
related to validate if the information seems accurate.
b) Authority; reveals the individual or institution responsible
for a website and their qualifications to do that. check on
authorship, contact information provided, credential information
that warrants them to present information and if the site is
supported by an institution or commercial bodies.
c) Purpose; checks on the clarity of the purpose of presented
information. Make sure content supports purpose of the site,
outside links used are appropriate, the site is organized and
focused. Also look at the domain of the site, audience to which
the information is meant and check if the site evaluates links
used.
Continuation (McKillop Library)
d) Coverage; look at the selectivity or comprehensiveness of the

3. site, depth of exploration of the topics, value of the site
information in relation to other sites, do the links go outside of
their own information? And does the site provide information
with relevant outside links? Is the information cited correctly?
Is there a balance of text and images?
e) Currency; this refers to how present information on a site is
depending on the date it was updated, date of site creation.
Check to see that links are up-to-date, links provided are
reliable, information provided is not limited to a certain period
and if the site has been under construction for sometime. Also
check to see the presence of dead links, currency of the links or
if they are updated regularly.
f) Objectivity; this is information presentation with minimum
bias. Check to see the objectives/ goals met by the site, how
detailed provided information is, the opinions expressed by the
author if any, if the information provided tries to sway the
audience, if the site advertising conflicts with the content. Try
also to evaluate if the site is explaining, persuading or trying to
sell an idea
Comparison based on http://webliminal.com/search/searc-
web12.htmlguidelines
http://www.adprima.com/homeschooling.htm. A personal
opinion about homeschooling.

4. Audience and purpose; This article is purposed to be educative
with the author giving his view about homeschooling to other
parents based on his experience.
Authority; the author’s name is given with a brief history of his
life in the article but with no address or other details.
Webpage owners location and email are provided.
Currency; the webpage suggests that the article was placed in
2014 with no details of any updates.
Accuracy and objectivity; the article avoid bias with author
acknowledging the fact he is not sure if homeschooling is the
best option . This means that a parent has to gather information
before deciding. Given all factors he considered the article is
quite comprehensive but a lot of the information from the
guidelines is lacking.
b)
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/gettingstarted/a/homeschool
4you.htm
Authority; the author’s name is provided with an email. The
webpage owner details are also outlined with a history about
them, contacts and editorial terms.
Purpose; the article clearly states its meant for educators.
Currency; it is indicated that information in the link is updated
based on the article in recent year of 2017 and 2018 meaning
the information is current.

5. Continuation
Accuracy and objectivity; the article is very extensive and
comprehensive with information from within the link to exhaust
the topic and give educators enough knowledge for decision
making. The in-depth analysis removes any chance of bias. The
article uses both imaging and text to pass information.
This article has extensively adhered to the guidelines above.
c) http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/2001/2001lueckeh.pdf
Authority; the article is a guide by a university library with
contact information of the
Librarians. There is history of the university provided. The
author's name and location of publication is stated.
Currency; there is an indication of the article being published in
2009 and being updated in 2018.
Purpose and audience; the article was intended for higher
education scholars to aid in explaining how assignments and
projects theses are written.
Accuracy and objectivity; each step is analyzed in depth with
use of outside links and acknowledging them together with
quoted authors. References are clearly stated with the citations
provided. The website is very comprehensive with majority of
the details as per the above guidelines.
d) https://www.capterra.com/project-management-software/
Authority; the link acknowledges information from various
websites with each stating the author. Contact information of
the webpage owner is given with a brief history about them.
Audience and purpose; information in the link for a range of
users mostly those with software technology interests.
Information is clearly stated to help in project management.
Currency; information provided is updated from time to time.
Accuracy and objectivity; each website provides and in depth
explanation on the use with images and text. Links from other
websites are acknowledged the their authors cited. The website
is comprehensive following the provided guidelines.

6. References
Salve Regina University. (Updated 27th august 2018). McKillop
Library. Evaluating Websites; research from start to finish.
Jim, K. (1998). Teaching Web Evaluation to Undergrads. Forest
city, Lowa. Updated may 10, 2018.