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Use either search tool below to find pages on this website. Enter keywords or a phrase, then click "Search."
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Complete index of pages on this website
How to assess this website's credibility
Use the following questions to evaluate information on this website or any other.
- Evaluate the source:
- Check the domain and publisher: Identify who operates the website. A .edu or .gov address can help identify an institution, but no domain ending guarantees that every statement is accurate. A .org address does not necessarily indicate a nonprofit organization.
- Investigate the author: Look for relevant qualifications, expertise, and experience. Does the author have knowledge of the subject being discussed?
- Investigate the organization: Does the organization or publisher have a record of providing accurate information and correcting mistakes?
- Examine the content:
- Check citations and references: Does the webpage identify sources for its claims? Do those sources support the claims, and are they reliable?
- Assess the tone and language: Does the author distinguish facts from opinions and support conclusions with evidence? A stated viewpoint does not automatically make information unreliable, but sensational language deserves closer scrutiny.
- Look for spelling and grammatical errors: Careful writing is a useful clue, but polished language alone does not establish accuracy.
- Check dates: Is the information current enough for the topic, and does the author identify when it was published or updated?
- Check the facts:
- Compare claims with multiple reliable, independent sources. Several websites repeating the same unsupported claim do not provide independent confirmation.
- Consult fact-checking resources when relevant, and examine the evidence they cite.
- Consider the website's design and functionality:
- Check whether links work and the content appears maintained. Professional design can make a website easier to use, but it does not guarantee reliable information.
- Look for contact information or a way to ask questions and report errors, such as an email address or contact form.
- Identify the audience and purpose:
- Who is the intended audience, and how does that affect the information presented?
- Is the main purpose to inform, teach, entertain, persuade, or sell a product or service?
- Does the author clearly disclose relevant affiliations, financial interests, and viewpoints? Evaluate the evidence even when you agree with the author's conclusions.
- Consider outside feedback:
- Look for substantive reviews, corrections, and comments from knowledgeable readers. Favorable reviews and social media shares indicate popularity or approval, but do not by themselves establish accuracy.
These steps can help you assess the reliability of information on a webpage.
-- Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu