It is extremely important that if you are using the Internet for research, you must evaluate the site for accuracy and authority! There is a lot of misinformation out on the web and you do not want to suffer from information overload! Please keep in the mind the following when you are deciding if a web site is reliable and appropriate:
- Authority: Who is responsible for creating the webpage? What does the URL contain?
- Accuracy: Spelling or grammar mistakes? Can you verify the information on the webpage?
- Bias/Objectivity
- Currency: When was the webpage created or updated? Is the information up to date?
- Scope
- Coverage: What is the purpose? Who is the intended audience? Is the information detailed or broad?
Remember you should always check with your instructor to deterimine if you are allowed to use web sites (instead of Library Databases) for your assignments! You can always ask a Goodwin Librarian for assistance with navigating through the many databases we subscribe to!