Evaluating Research

Be aware of the following when you search online for information:

  • Accuracy and currency: Some websites may publish inaccurate or dated information.
  • Bias: Few websites give an objective or completely unbiased version of events or information. You might want to review Unit 2 Lesson 4 Page 4.
  • Credibility: Information on a personal blog may not be as accurate as information on a database or encyclopedia website. Ensure the person or third party that publishes the information is a reputable or accredited source for that information.
  • Inappropriate sites: You may find these accidentally, and their inappropriateness may not always be immediately obvious.
Be critical about resources you use.

  • They should be varied and trustworthy. Always use more than one source, and be sure all are credible and reliable.
  • The best information is not always found online; often, books have more depth or specific information than websites have.
  • If you cannot navigate easily to or from an online resource, be suspicious that it is not reliable or credible.
  • The websites you use should contain accurate information and be current (copyrighted to the current year).

What can you tell from an Internet address (URL)?


Often, looking at the end of the URL will tell you the kind of website it is, and that might give a clue about how trustworthy or objective the information is.

URL Type of info Reliability
.com (commercial) commercial sites, ads, business info, shopping, news **
.edu (education) school information, links to libraries and departments ****
.gov (government) statistics, public information, facts, agency databases *****
.org (organization) non-profit information, interest group agendas; may try to influence public opinion ***
.net (network) Internet service provider; often sponsors personal sites **
~ (tilde) followed by a personal name (someone's personal webpages) could be great information but be careful! (Some educational institutions let individuals post personal material with no monitoring of contents. ) You be the judge!


for Shmoop's video on Finding Reliable Sources


 Read more information about evaluating online sources by clicking here.


There are many helpful resources in the Skill Builder files, including  these 'other research resources'.