Evaluation Tips

When you’re searching online, you’re going to come across a variety of sites both good and bad, but the challenge is determining which ones are reliable and right for your information needs. So if you’re not sure if you can trust the information you find online, you can use Marsha Ann Tate’s 5 Evaluation Criteria for Web Resources:

1. Authority: The level of knowledge and credibility a person/organization/company has to write or talk on this subject
2. Accuracy: The information presented is reliable and free from errors
3. Objectivity: The information has not been distorted or altered by personal feelings or bias, or they have made made their personal feelings and biases clear to the reader/viewer
4. Currency: The information is up to date
5. Coverage: The range of topics covered, the depth the site goes into these topics, and the audience for whom the information or materials is intended.

 

When evaluating your selected website, whether its run by a single person or a large organization or company, ask yourself these questions to ensure its:

Authority:

1. Has the site made it clear what organization, company, or person is responsible for its contents?
   • Tip: This information is usually at the top or bottom of the page, or you can check the homepage or if they have an About page for more information.
2. Have they provided their qualifications for discussing this subject?
   • Tip: When researching hobbies like sewing, evaluating their qualifications is not limited to formal education or instruction, instead anyone can become an authority through experience such as those who learnt in school or through accredited courses, those who are qualified to teach others, and those who taught themselves for their own personal enjoyment. So, think about the type of information you’re after, if you need help understanding a particular technique look for resources written by someone who has studied sewing or worked in the field as they may have more knowledge on the topic and how to explain it, while if you are struggling with understanding a pattern or how your machine works find other self-taught sewers as they have likely experienced the same issues as you.
3. Has the site provided contact information for those responsible for its content e.g. email, phone number, mailing address, physical location?
   • Tip: You can use these contact points to verify their legitimacy.
4. Are the site’s materials and information covered by copyright, and is the name of the copyright holder given?

Accuracy:

1. Are there any grammatical, spelling, or typographical errors presented in the information?
2. If they are discussing factual information, have they included sources so you can check where this information originated?

Objectivity:

1. Is the point of view of the person/organization/company responsible for the site or page content clearly explained or stated?
2. Is the page free of advertising or sponsorships?
   • Tip: Searching for things like sewing tools or patterns online, you’re likely to come across pages and sites with recommendations that include advertisements, sponsorships or affiliate links (the person/organization/company makes a small commission for each signup or sale make through their link). However, this doesn’t mean they are inherently bad but try searching for additional reviews to see if they are right for you.
3. If there is advertising or sponsored content:
   1. Has the person/organization/company clearly expressed and represented this, or any other relationship with another person/organization/company, on the site or page?
   2. Have they included links for the advertiser or sponsor so you can find more information about them?
   3. Have they provided any additional information about the type of sponsorship e.g. for promotional, educational, or promotional purposes?

Currency:

1. Is the date for when the information was created/ published online included?
2. If the information has revised or updated, has this been indicated and a new date given?

Coverage:

1. Is it clear what materials and/or information is included on the site or page
2. Is the intended audience for the site/page/information made clear?
3. If the site provides financial transactions, do they provide information on their security features?
4. If the site is asking for information from the user, have they made it clear how this information will be used, and/or do they provide information on their privacy policy?
5. If the site uses cookies:
   1. Have they made this clear?
   2. Are you, the user, notified?
   3. Do they provide information on the types of cookies they use and how long they last?
   4. Are you given the option to opt out, or choose which cookies to use?
6. Is there a mechanism for users to provide feedback such as a comments section?

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Printable Checklists:

Now the most common websites you’ll come across when doing research for sewing are business pages and personal pages like blogs and social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and to help you evaluate these specific types of pages Tate and Alexander have made some printable checklists with questions tailored to determining the credibility of these types of sites.

Business Pages:

http://mtateresearch.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Checklist_Business_Marketing_Page.3272207.pdf

Personal Pages:

http://mtateresearch.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Checklist_Personal_Page.3272430.pdf

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References