Credible Research Sources

Internet Research: What’s credible? www.martinlutherking.org www.thedogisland.com www.dhmo.org

Internet Research The Internet is unregulated Website credibility varies widely Types of sites can include .com - .net .gov - .mil .edu - .int .org

What to look for… Determine the site’s author and purpose Assess the quality of information provided Read the site’s privacy policy and disclaimer statement

Author & Purpose Look for sites that clearly state the site’s purpose “About Us” section Read mission, goals and purpose Advocacy sites could be biased Is there contact information readily available? .com = commerce – best to avoid in research

Quality of Information Timeliness How current is this information? Is the site updated regularly? Content Are there spelling errors? Is info supported by sources? Does it seem biased? Avoid sites with a lot of ads or sign-in requirements

Privacy Policy & Disclaimer Privacy Policies Help you understand the level of ownership the author claims for the content within Lets you know how your personal information will be used Disclaimer A notice posted on a website explaining what the owner does and does not guarantee in regard to the sites’ content "The information presented on this Web site should not take the place of legal or medical advice."

How to Find Credible Web Sites Be careful about using search engines They use special formulas based on site popularity and key words, NOT credibility Reputable sources (still be wary!) Government agencies (.gov) Educational institutions (.edu) National organizations (.org) Military organizations (.mil)

Sources http://olrs.ohio.gov/asp/olrs_Quality.asp http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram- Memorial- Library/webevaluation/webeval.htm