The Internet has a lot of great information, but it also hosts untrue or biased information. Make sure your sources are credible.
Who is responsible for the information?
- What do you know about the author?
- Is the author trustworthy?
- Does the have credentials or experience to speak on this topic?
Is the information biased?
- Does the author or the organization represent a particular point of view?
What is the purpose of the information?
- Is it intended to educate?
- Is it intended to persuade?
- Who is the intended audience?
Is the information up to date?
- When was the information published?
- Is the topic likely to change as new discoveries are made?
- Have responses or rebuttals been published?
Is the information well documented?
- Does the author provide a way for you verify their claims?
- Does the author give credit for ideas that are not their own?
- Is the author affiliated with the authors they cite?
- Does the author cherry-pick facts to support their ideas or do they provide a full context?
Is the information relevant?
- Is the scope of coverage appropriate?
- Does the author address the actual issue you are exploring or is it only tangentially related?
Click here to read a good overview of evaluating online information sources from the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Excelsior College .