As you gather sources, be critical about the information you include in your finished product. Select the most reliable sources that do the best job of answering your research question. Use the following criteria as a guide:
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General criteria |
Internet sources  |
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Author/ |
What are the author's credentials and affiliations? Is the publisher or journal known and reputable? |
Is information about the author/creator easy to find? Is there an "About" page or contact information provided? What ending does the web address have? (For example: .org, .edu, .com) |
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Accuracy |
Does the author provide references to support their statements?
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Does the website have any disclaimers waiving responsibility for the information? Are there any spelling or grammatical errors? |
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Currency |
How current does your information need to be? What is the publication date? Is the information outdated? |
Does the article or website have a publication date? Has the website been updated recently? Do all of the links work? |
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Coverage |
Who is the audience: the general public, professionals, or researchers?
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Does the website provide links to relevant outside sources?
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Point of View |
Is the information balanced and without bias? Does the author have a specific goal or objective? (For example: to persuade, to entertain, to inform?) |
Why was the website created? Are there paying sponsors or advertisements on the website?
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