Evaluating Internet Resources
Consider the following questions when gathering information from web resources for research assignments.
- Authority | Who is the author, publisher, source, or sponsoring organization? What experience or credentials does the author have? Are they an expert?
- Purpose | Why does the information exist? Is the information fact or opinion? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade? Does it appeal to emotion?
- Relevance | Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question/s? Are you comfortable citing this source in your research assignment?
- Date | When was the information published or posted? Does your topic require current information?
- Accuracy | Where does the information come from? Is there supporting data or evidence? Can you verify the information or claim with another source?