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Systematically questioning and assessing the validity and accuracy of information.

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When you are looking for information online for your research project, make sure that the source you are using is reliable.

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IV.B.3

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How to Evaluate Sources for Reliability - Writing for Kids

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Evaluating Websites   (for Elementary students)

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For every credible website, there are dozens chock full of information that's inaccurate, unreliable or just plain nutty. For the unwary, inexperienced journalist or researcher, such sites can present a minefield of possible problems.

With that in mind, here are eight ways to tell if a website is reliable.

1. Look for Established Institutions

The internet is full of websites that were started five minutes ago. What you want are sites associated with trusted institutions that have been around for a while and have a proven track record of reliability and integrity.

Such sites may include those run by government agencies, nonprofit organizations, foundations, or colleges and universities.

2. Look for Sites with Expertise

You wouldn't go to an auto mechanic if you broke your leg, and you wouldn't go to the hospital to have your car repaired. This is an obvious point: Look for websites that specialize in the kind of information you're seeking. So if you're writing a story on a flu outbreak, check out medical websites, such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and so on.

3. Steer Clear of Commercial Sites

Sites run by companies and business-their websites usually end in .com-are more often than not trying to sell you something. And if they're trying to sell you something, chances are whatever information they're presenting will be tilted in favor of their product. That's not to say corporate sites should be excluded entirely. But be wary.

4. Beware of Bias

Reporters write a lot about politics, and there are plenty of political websites out there. But many of them are run by groups that have a bias in favor of one political party or philosophy. A conservative website isn't likely to report objectively on a liberal politician, and vice versa. Steer clear of sites with a political ax to grind and instead look for ones that are non-partisan.

5. Check the Date

As a reporter, you need the most up-to-date information available, so if a website seems old, it's probably best to steer clear. One way to check: Look for a "last updated" date on the page or site.

6. Consider the Site's Look

If a site looks poorly designed and amateurish, chances are it was created by amateurs. Sloppy writing is another bad sign. Steer clear. But be careful: Just because a website is professionally designed doesn't mean it's reliable.

7. Avoid Anonymous Authors

Articles or studies whose authors are named are often-though not always-more reliable than works produced anonymously. It makes sense: If someone is willing to put their name on something they've written, chances are they stand by the information it contains. And if you have the name of the author, you can always Google them to check their credentials.

8. Check the Links

Reputable websites often link to each other. You can find out which other websites link to the site you're researching by conducting a link-specific Google search. Enter the following text into the Google search field, replacing "[WEBSITE]" with the domain of the site you're researching:

link:http://www.[WEBSITE].com

The search results will show you which websites link to the one you're researching. If lots of sites are linking to your site, and those sites seem reputable, that's a good sign.

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Here Are 8 Ways You Can Tell If a Website Is Trustworthy

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For every credible website, there are dozens chock full of information that's inaccurate, unreliable or just plain nutty. For the unwary, inexperienced journalist or researcher, such sites can present a minefield of possible problems. With that in mind, here are eight ways to tell if a website is reliable.

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The Internet is home to a tremendous amount of information, but not all of it is reliable or true. Since anyone is free to build whatever website they wish, much of the information available isn't subject to the same level of quality control found in resources like scholarly journals. Many Internet resources don't undergo any editing or fact-checking to ensure that the information is truthful and accurate. It is often up to Internet users to evaluate whether or not information is credible.

To determine the credibility of a website, use the ABCs of Internet source evaluation:

Accuracy: Is the information verifiable as true?

Authority: Is the author or website trustworthy regarding the subject?

Bias: Is the information presented objectively?

Coverage: How comprehensive is the information?

Currency: How recently was the information published?

Accuracy

To evaluate the accuracy of the information in Internet resources, you should ask:

Are specific sources cited by the author? And if so, are they reliable? Check the bibliography, footnotes, or reference list.

Can another source verify the information? Ensure that the information is available from more than one source.

Did editors or reviewers fact-check the information?

Does the information contain spelling or grammar errors? Poorly written content may indicate poorly researched information.

Authority

To evaluate whether an Internet resource is authoritative, you should ask:

Does the website display the author's name and credentials? Is the author part of a respected organization or institution, such as a university?

Who oversees the website?

What was the purpose of creating the website? Check the "about" or "background" sections to find out where the information originates.

What type of website is it? Personal blogs or social media websites like Facebook and Twitter will require you to closely review the author's level of experience to determine authority.

What type of domain is the information on? Domains that end in .edu, .com, .biz, .gov, and .org can give you an insight into a website's credibility.

Bias

To evaluate whether an Internet resource has a bias, you should ask:

Is the information presented fact-based or opinion-based? Review the citations.

Does the information have a political or religious motivation? Check sections titled "about," "purpose," or "mission statement" to evaluate the author's purpose in creating the information.

Is the information on the website presented to entertain or inform?

Does the information contain advertisements for a brand, product, or service, or are they separate from the content?

Coverage

To evaluate how comprehensive the coverage of Internet resources is, you should ask:

Is any relevant information excluded from the page? Check all pages on a website or any relevant links to search for missing information.

Does the coverage of the subject matter go in depth? Are enough details provided?

Who is the intended audience for the information? Information created for students or the general public may not be sufficiently detailed.

Is the information presented on a commercial website? Be wary of sites that require you to pay for access to all of the information.

Is the website the best available source for the information? More comprehensive coverage may be found in other sources.

Currency

To evaluate how current an Internet resource is, you should ask:

When was the information first published?

Has the page been kept up to date? If a page contains several broken links, that may indicate that the information has not been updated in a while.

How current does the information need to be to meet your research needs?

Additional Reading on Evaluating Internet Resources

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A Student's Guide to Evaluating Internet Sources and Information

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Many Internet resources don't undergo any editing or fact-checking and it is often up to Internet users to evaluate whether or not information is credible.

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WHY IMPORTANT? - Anyone with an Internet Service Provider (AT&T, UP.net, NMU, etc.) can put up a Web page. As a result, you need to have some idea whether the group claiming responsibility for the information on the Web site is legitimate.

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Internet safety: How do you trust information found online?