The web's accessibility and ease of use has led to an exponential increase in the amount of information available online. As a research tool, however, it lacks the quality assurance editors provide with print publications. So it's crucial people researching in this medium learn how to critically evaluate what they find.

The following checklist, divided into five separate criteria for evaluation, presents questions that should be asked to determine if a resource is of high quality or not. The greater number of questions answered "yes," the more likely the source is of high quality.

1. Is it clear who is sponsoring the creation and maintenance of the page?
2. Is there information available describing the purpose of the sponsoring organization?
3. Is there a way of verifying the legitimacy of the page's sponsor? For instance, is a phone number or address available to contact for more information?
4. Is it clear who developed and wrote the material? Are his/her qualifications for writing on this topic stated?

1. Are the sources for factual information given so they can be verified?
2. Is it clear who has the responsibility for the accuracy of the information presented?
3. If statistical data is presented in graphs or charts, are they labeled clearly?

1. Is the page and the information included provided as a public service?
2. Is it free of advertising?
3. If there is advertising on the page, is it clearly separated from the informational content?

1. Are there dates on the page to indicate the following:
   • When the page was written?
   • When the page was first placed on line?
   • When the page was last revised or edited?
2. Are there any other indications that the material is updated frequently to ensure currency of the data?
3. If the information is published in print in different editions, is it clear what edition the page is from?

1. Is there an indication that the page has been completed and is not still under construction?
2. If there is a print equivalent to the Web page, is there clear indication of whether the entire work or only a portion of it is available on the Web?
3. If the material is from a work that is out of copyright (as is often the case with a dictionary or thesaurus), has there been an effort to update the material to make it more current?