Source

Anyone can publish on the Web. The author or source of information should show some evidence of being knowledgeable, reliable, and truthful. Some questions you should ask are:

Is the name of the author/producer easily identifiable?

The name of the author may be at the top or bottom of the Web page. Sometimes there will be a link to more information about the author, but keep in mind that none of it may be true!

Does the author provide contact information for questions and comments?

One sign of a reputable source is if the author is willing to communicate with the audience. Comments or facts stated by anonymous sources should be taken with a grain of salt.

Who is the sponsor of the site?

The URL (uniform resource locator) or address of the site gives other clues about the author. Looking at the URL may help the reader know whether the content is from an educational institution, an individual, a government organization or a business.

Personal Name in URL may mean a personal home page with no official sanction

The site may contain very valuable information for your research, however, it may also just be someone’s non-professional, inexperienced point of view on the subject. Check the author’s credentials before relying on information of this sort. Someone willing to put his or her name, credentials, affiliation, and contact address on an article is more likely to be reliable than someone making an anonymous posting to the Web.

Credibility

Is the author associated with a reputable organization?

Many times a particular author is unknown, but the organization with which they are associated can lend credibility to the Web site. Look for clues showing that the person is a member of a professional organization.

Is the author an expert the field?

This of course will also lend credibility to the information at the site.

What are the author’s credentials and reputation?

If an author is an expert and qualified to write about the information contained at the site, they should clearly state it. Look for a link to background information about the author, or better yet, their Curriculum Vitae.

Content

Accuracy

Don’t take the information at face value. 

Is the author reporting on research they conducted personally? First-hand research is very valuable information if it is done well. Look at how well the statistics are used. If you don’t have enough information to evaluate the results, the facts reported are weaker than if you know the research methods used.

Do other sources say the same thing?

If you find the same information in reliable print sources as you do online, the potential for accuracy is higher.

Currency

Some work is timeless, while other information has a limited useful life because of advances in the discipline; finally, some information (like technology news or some market values) is outdated very quickly. You must therefore be careful to note when the information you find on a Web site was created, and then decide whether it is still of value to you. Look to see if the site has been updated recently, as reflected by the date on the page.

Depth

Determine if the content covers a specific time period or aspect of your topic, or if it strives to be comprehensive. Highly specialized sites contain more detailed information.

Objectivity

Is the author discussing a controversial topic? A good writer should be able to control their biases. Be aware that some organizations are naturally not neutral. Be on the lookout for slanted, biased, politically distorted work. Axe grinding makes a lot of heat and sparks, but not much light. Pay attention to the tone. Venting is not arguing. Do reality checks: is the information believable? Does it make sense? Or do the claims lack face validity? That is, do they seem to conflict with what you already know in your experience, or do they seem too exaggerated to be true? Does the author discuss various opinions about an issue, giving each due respect? Or is only one side presented?

References

Is there evidence of the sources for the information you have found? Are there references within the text? If these are print references, they can be evaluated the usual way. If they are links to other Internet documents, you’re back at the starting point in evaluating the new reference.

Links

Many Web sites contain links to other documents or sites on the Web. Follow a few of these links to see what kind of information the author associates with. Are the links relevant and appropriate?

Quality

Most scholarly journal articles pass through a peer review process, whereby several readers must examine and approve content before it is published. Professional editors do the same job for books and commercial periodicals. Statements issued in the name of an organization have almost always been seen and approved by several people.

Evidence of quality control of Internet materials includes these items:

Information presented on organizational web sites

For example: sites associated with academic or government institutions, well known businesses such as Sotheby’s auction house, or information web sites such as the Wall Street Journal, or the Los Angeles Times.

On-line Journals that use refereeing by editors or others:

Many professional online journals have a rigorous refereeing process that material must pass through before it is published online. This process is the same as for printed versions of their journals. Professional organizations have the same reputation online as they do offline.

Style and Functionality

Is the site laid out clearly and logically with well organized subsections?
Is the site easy to navigate and find your way around?

Also, if you notice the use of bad grammar or misspelled words in a web site, it is a sign for caution. Whether the errors come from carelessness or ignorance, neither puts the information or the writer in a favorable light.