How to Determine Credible Sources on the Internet
The Internet is an essential tool for research, from sports teams' news to information on monetary policies. Since everyone has the ability to upload content one way or another, it is highly unlikely you won't find what you're looking for at official websites, social networks or personal blogs. For the same reason, the issue of source credibility is a major concern for journalists, students and researchers when trying to find credible information online. You cannot trust every website, in the same way you don't ask someone at the bus stop for reliable information on the 1996 U.S. presidential elections.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Check the design of the page. Poorly maintained websites, with a simplistic --- not minimal --- design, containing generic images you can easily find using search engines or Microsoft's clip art, for example, are the work of individuals or amateur groups and not professional organizations. Missing links and misleading advertisements are also signs of an unreliable website.
-
2
Examine the domain of the page. Official government pages end in ".gov," websites of educational institutions in ".edu," while ".com" is intended for commercial websites. For example, search at "grants.gov" for information on government grants, instead of relying on "usagovernmentgrants.org."
-
-
3
Scroll at the bottom of the page or click on the terms of use link to examine whom the copyright of the page belongs to. For example, the copyright of "visitlasvegas.com," the "Official Las Vegas Tourism Web Site," belongs to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. However, another website declaring itself to be "The Official Vegas Travel Site" (vegas.com), actually belongs to VEGAS.com, LLC.
-
4
Look for the contact details of the administration or editorial team. Legitimate sources provide landlines and the organization's full address. Become suspicious when only cell phones and P.O. boxes are provided.
-
5
Search for words such as "blogspot" and "wordpress" at the page's address. This way you can identify even well-designed blogs, which express the user's personal opinions. Even when the content is supposedly republishing information from credible sources, find the original sources.
-
6
Check the author of an article, study or comment. See if the person's credentials for writing about the particular topic are mentioned. If the name of the author is not stated, then the website takes responsibility, which means you have to determine if it is a reputable page, following the previous steps.
-
7
Spot grammar or spelling mistakes throughout the page. Credible websites use professional writers and copy-editors to ensure no blatant mistakes. Visible mistakes at important parts of the website, such as the title or the main feature, are an amateur's work.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
