One of the first things to do is look at the website's URL domain ending. Domains .edu, .gov, and .org are generally thought to be the best for credible information. Just remember that .org is a domain that is no longer used by only non-profit organizations and .edu webpages can be created by students from a college or university who have no real expertise in the field they are discussing. Make sure you evaluate the website further than the domain endings.
.com commercial business or for-profit organizations
.gov United States government agencies
.edu educational institutions
.mil United States military organizations
.org non-profit organizations
Use the information given below to find and evaluate information on the Web.
One way to effectively search the Internet is to use Google Advanced Search. Visit www.google.com next to the search box click on Advanced Search. Type in your search terms in the top box. In the very bottom box type in the domain you want. Ex: .gov, .edu for the most credible websites.
Authority
Who is the author? What are the author's credentials? Does the author have expertise in the area? Is the author associated with a reputable organization?
Bias
Is the information balanced? Is it more opinion than fact? Is the page a presentation of facts or designed to sway opinion? Is a product, service, donate button, or idea being sold?
Currency
When was the page last updated? Are any links dead? Is the information consistent with your knowledge in the subject?
Documentation
Is information documented with references? Are the facts given supported with evidence? If statistics are provided, what is the source? Is the page free of spelling mistakes or other obvious mistakes?
This chart will help you walk through the evaluation. It helps you look for certain things for each letter, tells you why you should evaluate, and what you should look for when evaluating.
