Web Site Evaluation

Name: 	
Course:	
Instructor:	
Web Site Title: 	
Web URL:	
Date Visited:	
Brief description of the contents of the site:

	

Criteria and types of evidence	How the Web site being evaluated met the criterion	Rating	
		1
(low)	2	3	4	5 (high)	
1.  Authority with regard to topic—who is responsible for the site?:
•	Author of site (individual/institutional affiliation, organization
•	Credentials, expertise, experience
•	Contact information (name, e-mail, postal address)
•	URL type suggest reputable affiliation (.edu=educational institution; .org=non-profit organization; .com=commercial enterprise; .net=Internet Service Provider; .gov=governmental body; .mil=military)							
2.  Objectivity—is the purpose of the site clear, including any particular viewpoint?
•	Statement of purpose/scope
•	Intended audience
•	Information presented as factual or opinion, primary or secondary in origin
•	Criteria for inclusion of information
•	Disclosure of sponsorship or underwriting							

Criteria and Types of Evidence	Web Site Evidence	Rating	
		1
(low)	2	3	4	5 (high)	
3.  Accuracy—is the information accurate?
•	Facts documented or well-researched
•	Facts compare to related print or other online sources
•	Links provided to quality Web resources
•								
4.  Currency—is the information current?
•	Evidence of current content
•	Pages date-stamped with latest update							
5.  Usability:—is the site well-designed and stable?
•	Site organization logical and easy to maneuver
•	Content readable by intended audience
•	Information presented is error-free (spelling, punctuation)
•	Readily identifiable link back to the institutional or organizational home page
•	Site reliably accessible
•	Pages loaded quickly							
Sub-Total by  rating  of  points awarded for each of the five criteria							

Assessment of Web Site	
Rating based on the total number of points: 

5-9 points:  poor                                                     
10-14 points:  fair
15-19 points:  good
20-25 points:  excellent              _____________  

	Your personal assessment—would you recommend this site?  Why or why not?	

Kent State University
Libraries & Media  Services, BFS, 10/99