Advantages and Disadvantages of the "Free Web"

Warning: Anyone can publish a web page to support their own intents and purposes. Content on the World Wide Web varies from high-quality research to biased or misleading promotional materials to downright misinformation. The amount of scholarly information available varies by subject.

Evaluating a web page is a critical part of your research. When you review your search results, consider:

• Author/Producer's Credibility - Can you identify who produced the page, his/her professional affiliation and expertise? can you contact the author?
• Point of View - Does the author acknowledge and refer to other research or opinions on the topic? is the presentation fair and balanced? is the author trying to sell something?
• Accuracy - Is there evidence of quality control? is the page detailed and factual?
• Relevance - Is the page appropriate for the target audience? is it appropriate for your topic?
• Timeliness - Is the copyright or "last updated" date from the last month, few months, year?
• Comprehensiveness - Are other sources presented? does the author address the subject with appropriate breadth and depth?

These are factors in the mind's of librarians when they select items for our collections. See the Subject Research Guides for lists of useful materials.

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