The World Wide Web contains hundreds of thousands of documents. This can make finding what are you are looking for very difficult, especially if you need an authoritative
source for research purposes. Use these guidelines to help you determine the validity of the pages you find.
If it is not stated, you can find out this way (directions are for Netscape Communicator):
- On the top of your screen, go to "View" on the toolbar
- Choose "Page Info"
- Look at the bottom half of the screen. In the "Last modified" field, the date should be there
Accuracy
Are there spelling, punctuation or grammar mistakes?
Are there a lot of flashy graphics and not much text?
If so, you may want to think twice about using it for your research. Reliable pages should look professional and be error-free.
Authority
Who wrote the web page?
Is it signed by the author or sponsoring institution? A reputable institution will put its name on its page.
If it is signed by a single author, can you find out his/her credentials? Is s/he an expert in your field, or just another "Joe Schmo"? Be wary of pages without this information.
Objectivity
Is there a bias in the language used on this page?
Does it give both sides of a controversial issue?
Does it link to only sites containing the same point of view?
Relevance
Is this the best possible information you can find on your topic? Many times, you can still find more in-depth information from books and articles.
Citing the Internet
You must cite the Internet sources you use just as you do for print sources.
If you use MLA style of citation, go to this page:
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/index.shtml
If you use APA style of citation, go to this page:
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/apa
