What Makes an Internet Site Reliable?

Authority/Source Questions

• Is there an identified author of the web site?
• Is contact information, i.e., an e-mail address, given for the author?
• Are the credentials of the author stated?
• Is the author an expert in his/her field? (Have others cited the author?)
• Have other web pages linked to this page?
• Does the site comply with current copyright guidelines?
• Is this site sponsored by an organization? If so, is the purpose and scope of the organization given? Is a phone number and surface mail address given for the organization, in addition to an e-mail address?

Currency/Date Questions

• How current is the information?
• When was the site last updated?
• Is the original copyright date posted?
• Is the information on the site current or primarily for historical purposes?
• How up-to-date are the links on the site?
• Is the information timely in relation to the content of the site?
• If the site provides time sensitive information, is the frequency of updates posted?
  

Objectivity/Bias Questions

• Does the site have a bias?
• Is there a commercial or organizational interest associated with the site?
• Are there advertisements on the page? Is the page actually an ad disguised as information?
• Is the site based on verifiable facts or opinions?
• Are inflammatory words, phrases, or profanity used in the site?
• Are misleading or deceptive arguments used?
• Are there fallacies in arguments and reasoning?
• Are stereotypes or ethnocentric arguments used?
  

More About Evaluating Sources

• Evaluating Web Pages:
  Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask - UC Berkeley - Teaching Library Internet Workshops
• Web Page Evaluation Checklist PDF form ? - This worksheet is an excellent resource to use before you decide on including a web page to your research paper