Can you trust that website?
Anyone can publish material on the Internet. When using the Internet it is important to be aware of the possibility that the site you are viewing could be biased, inaccurate or misleading.
To help you judge whether a site is trustworthy, ask these key questions:
Authority
Who is responsible for publishing the site?
- .edu indicates an educational institution.
- .gov indicates a government site.
- .org indicates a non-commercial body.
- .net indicates a non-profit organisation.
- .com indicates a business site.
- Have you checked the 'home' link to find out who is supporting the page you are reading?
Who is the author?
- What is known about their education and experience?
- Are they an expert in the field you are researching?
- Have they published a contact email address?
Purpose and audience
What is the main purpose of the site?
- Is the site trying to inform or persuade?
- Are you reading facts or opinions?
- Is a bibliography included, to show the sources of the information?
- Are there links to reputable sites?
Who is the intended audience?
- Is the site meant for children? Students? Academic researchers? Consumers? A specific interest group?
Currency
Is the information current?
- When was the information published?
- Is the site regularly updated?
- Are the links still active?
Design
How well is the site structured?
- Does the site have a professional look?
- Is it well organised and easy to navigate?
- Is it logically set out with headings and subheadings?
- Are the spelling and grammar correct?
Adding a website to your bibliography
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