Let's face it--there is a lot of information available on the Internet! How do you determine if it's GOOD information, especially if you want to use it for research?
Authority:
-
Who wrote this information, and why?
-
What credentials or expertise does the author have in the subject area?
-
Is the information fact-based, or opinion-based?
-
Who owns or is sponsoring the website?
Purpose
-
Who is the intended audience? Is it for scholars, the community, or private groups?
-
Does the site include a mission statement?
-
What is the purpose of the site? Is it to inform, instruct, persuade, or to sell?
Objectivity:
-
Is the information biased? If so, does the author acknowledge these biases?
-
Does the author present alternative points of view?
-
Does the website sponsor have any vested interests that could cause bias?
Accuracy
-
Is the information contained in this site correct?
-
How accurate is other information within the site?
Credibility
-
Where does the information come from?
-
Does the author provide references or a bibliography?
-
If references are listed, are they from primary or secondary sources? Are the references themselves trustworthy?
-
Do the links to reference work, or are they broken?
Timeliness
-
When was the site last updated?
-
Have there been any new developments or changes in that subject since it was created? Is it outdated?
-
How current are the sources listed as references?
Relevance
-
How will using this source contribute to your research?
-
Is this type of resource permitted by your professor?