Website Evaluation Guide

There are many interesting sites on the Internet, but not all of them will meet the needs of your research. Use this scoring guide to help you determine which sites will likely be most helpful for your research. Rate each category by giving it a number. Then count the total score at the end.

3= Excellent   2= Good  1= Fair  0= poor 

Category Score
Purpose/Content

  • The purpose and audience of the website is clear.

  

  • Website contains information that is useful to me and can be viewed properly. 

 

  • Information presented on the website is relevant and appropriate to help answer my research questions.

  
  • Website is engaging, and has lots of good information.  I will visit it again.
  

Authority/Credibility

  • The author(s) of the website is/are indicated along with citations of the sources used as resources for the website's information.

  

  • The institution that published the page, as well as contact information is cited.

  

Navigation/Accessibility

  • The website can be accessed reasonably fast.  I do not have to wait a long time for images to load.

  
  • The author(s) can be contacted to answer my questions.
  
  • Website is well organized and I can easily find the information I am seeking.
  

  • All links are functional.

  

  • Site provides alternate text for graphic links.

  

Visual Appeal

  • The website is visually appealing and displays originality.

  

  • Graphics are appropriate and serve to enhance the content presented.

 
  • There are little or no advertisements or flashy animation to distract my attention away from the information I need.
  

  • Background is subdued and text is readable.

  

Total Score