The internet has made it possible for anyone to publish web pages. Most websites have not undergone a review process for inclusion in a collection, whereas the resources in the Library’s password-protected databases have. For these reasons, you should closely evaluate any Internet resources you find to ensure they contain balanced, factual information. Reliable internet resources may include peer reviewed journal articles, government reports, conference papers, industry and professional standards, scientific papers, news reports, and quick facts and figures. However, keep in mind that just because a website is well presented does not mean that it contains accurate information. Here are a few things you can look for in Internet resources to determine whether or not they are reliable sources of information.
By addressing the questions above you can reasonably determine if an Internet resource is a reliable source of information.
Click here to download a website evaluation worksheet.
For more information about evaluating websites, view the NU Library Workshop Website Evaluation.