How do you know if a website is reliable?
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How to evaluate Internet sources
There is a lot of information on the Internet, which means there is also a lot of inaccurate information. Here are some tips to consider when you are evaluating the reliability of an Internet source:
How did you come across the website/page?
Did you find the website/page through a library database, online journal or other subscriber-based resource (such as Issues Online)? If not, remember the accuracy of information found by popular search engines varies greatly! It might be quick, but it’s not necessarily reliable!
Did you come across the site via a recommendation? Consider the person who directed you to the site, would you usually trust their advice?
Did you follow a link from another site? If so, was it a pop-up? Was the original site reputable (for example The Guardian or the NHS Choices website)?
Was the website cited in a reliable source, such as a journal or report?
Who is the author of the website/page?
Information about the author of the...
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