Quick Guide Check List for screening all types of resources:

Accuracy/validity - How reliable is the information?

Authority/legitimacy Who is the author and what is their point of view?
Purpose/intent Why was the resource created and who is the intended
audience?
Currency When was the information published? Has it been updated to
reflect new information?
Relevance/transferability Is the resource relevant to student learning
and can it be extended?

Further exploration for resources that don't pass the quick guide/screening:

Accuracy/validity: Given that there are no strict or standardized rules,

regulations or systems in place to ensure that information on the web is
correct, one must be diligent to fact-check and verify all resources.

. Can the information be verified from another or additional sources?

. Is the information properly cited and sourced?
. Are there any spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors?
. Has the information been referred to by others?

Authority/legitimacy: Almost anyone has the ability to publish information

on the internet regardless of whether they are qualified experts in the field.
Finding resources by credible and respected authors who represent a variety
of unbiased and pluralistic worldviews is essential.

. Who is the author/authors? What else have they written? How long have
they been writing on the topic
. Does the author represent a particular set or world views?
. Do they represent a specific gender, sexual, racial, political, social and/or
cultural orientation?
. Do they have a formal role in a particular institution? Is the institution
credible and well respected? Or is it known to support/possess a particular
bias/worldview?

Purpose/intent: It should be clear why the information has been published

and made available and what purpose it serves

. Why was the resource created?

. Is it an educational resource? (persuasive?)
. Does it fill any personal, professional, or social needs?
. Who is the intended audience? It is written and presented in a way that
Currency: Materials on the web can become out-dated, falling out of use or
are no longer maintained. Older resources should be avoided in favour of
newer, more current ones.

. When was the page created?

. Do all applicable links work?
. Is the page maintained and updated on a regular basis?
. Is the information considered current and contemporary?

Relevance/tranferability: Is the information specifically relevant to student

learning and can it be applied and used to extend thinking and learning?

. Does it analyze the primary source that you are researching?

. Is it a general overview or an in-depth analysis?
. Does the scope match your own information needs?
. Is the time period and geographic region relevant to your search?

Resources:
http://library.queensu.ca/inforef/tutorials/qcat/evalint.htm
http://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/evaluating-resources