Below are some helpful criteria and questions to evaluate whether a Website is trustworthy or reliable.
Authority
- Who created the Website?
- What are the author’s qualifications? Is he/she qualified to write on this topic?
- Is the author’s name, title & contact information listed on the site?
- Does an institution (university, organization, for-profit company, etc.) supports this information and what is their steak in doing so?
Objectivity/Reliability
- What’s the purpose of this Website? Hint: Examine the Website's URL to help you figure out the purpose.
- Educate/Inform.
- Example: .edu (school or university)
- Public service.
- Persuade you to join/support an organization’s cause.
- Express personal opinions.
- Ex.: .net (personal site)
- Sell you something.
- Ex.: .com (sales/entertainment)
- Is the information presented in a balanced, objective/factual way or is it biased?
Accuracy
- Is the information accurate and well researched? Does the author cite sources so you can verify his/her claims?
- Is the information free of spelling and grammar mistakes?
Currency
- Is the Website maintained or updated regularly?
- When was the site created?
- When was it last updated?
- Is the information out of date?
- Are there broken links?