Using the Internet for Research

WHAT IS A REPUTABLE WEBSITE?

When you search the Internet, no doubt you will typically end up with numerous hits that match your search criteria. How will you tell which sites are reputable and research paper-worthy?

· First off, NO WIKIPEDIA! This is a constantly changing site which can be added to by anyone. It is not reputable.
· Make sure you are NOT on somebody’s personal page. For personal pages, there is no publisher or domain owner vouching for the information in the page. How can you tell if it is a personal page?
- Read the URL carefully. Look for a personal name (ex. jbarker or barker) following a tilde ( ~ ), a percent sign ( % ), or the words "users," "members," or "people."
· What type of domain does it come from (educational, nonprofit, commercial, government, etc.)? Is the domain extension appropriate for the content?
- Government sites: look for .gov or .mil
- Educational sites: look for .edu
- Nonprofit organizations: look for .org
These domains are usually much more reputable than a commercial .com site. Look for appropriateness. What kind of information source do you think is most reliable for your topic?
· Is there an author clearly indicated? What can you find out about that author?
· If there is an organization sponsoring the page, what can you learn about the organization and who they are?
· What are the goals of the site? What is the purpose of the site? To provide information? Advertise? Persuade? Who is the intended audience? Is there a lot of flash and gimmicks to attract attention? Is it a blatant attempt to get you to do or buy something?