1. Is it clear what agency is responsible for the contents of the website?
2. Is there a page describing the nature of the agency, who runs or sponsors the agency, and the types of policies with which the agency is involved.
3. Is there a way of verifying the legitimacy of this agency? That is, is there a phone number or postal address to contact for more information? An email address, alone, is not sufficient.
Criterion #2: Accuracy
1. Has the agency provided a link to the outside sources or reports related to the policies the agency addresses?
2. Are the sources for any factual information clearly listed so they can be verified in another source?
3. Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, and typographical errors? These types of errors may not only indicate a lack of quality control but can actually produce inaccuracies in information.
Criterion #3: Objectivity
For any given piece of information is it clear what the agency’s motivation is for providing it?
Criterion #4: Currency
Are there any dates on the website to indicate:
When it was written?
When it was first placed on the web?
When it was last revised?
Are there any indications that the material is kept current?
If there is any financial or funding information, is the information clearly stated?
If there is material from the agency’s annual report, is the date of the report listed?
Criterion #5: Coverage
Is there an indication that the website has been completed and is not still under construction?
If the website describes agency reports or publications, are these descriptions adequate and clear to the reader?
Does the website provide the same level, or quality, of information for all sections or division of the agency mentioned?
Policy Website (insert the name of the website here in its www.com Links to an external site. or URL format)
