Evaluating Websites

There are many great websites out there. However, all websites should be evaluated before selecting them to use in a research projects. The easiest way to evaluate a website is using the C.A.R.D.S. method:

Credibility:

When considering the credibility of a website, look to see if the author is listed. Then, check to see if the author’s credentials are listed. You want to look for authors who are experts in their fields, so check to see if they have their background and education listed, then think about whether or not the information they have written should be trusted. You can also check the URL to get a hint:

Government sites: look for .gov or .mil

Educational sites: look for .edu

Nonprofit organizations: look for .org (though this is no longer restricted to nonprofits so must be looked at more closely)

Commercial sites: .com (these sites are generally the lest reliable)

Accuracy:

Though you are not an expert on the subject you are looking up, you should be able to compare the information you have found on the website with information you have gathered from other sources. So, check to see if the content seems to be accurate.

Sources:

Like any good research paper, the sources should be cited! If you are looking at a well-researched and reliable website, you should look to see that the sources have been cited.

As always, if you have any questions about the websites you are using, always check with your teacher!

Need More Info?

If you would like more detailed information on how to evauate a website, check out this page on evaluating websites created by the University of California at Berkeley.