Information on the Internet is not away regulated for quality or accuracy.  When doing research on the World Wide Web for an assignment you want the information to be credible and accurate.  Here are some ways to steer clear of the misinformation...

v     Consider the Source

§         Credentials of the author of the information.  Consider their degrees, publications and institutional affiliations.

§         The interestedness or disinterestedness of the author of the information.  An example of this would be if a cigarette company writes an article on the benefits of smoking.

v     Multiply your sources

§         The more sources that agree on a subject, the more likely it is to be true.

v     What is the purpose of the page

§         Who is the intended audience?  Is it for a scholarly purpose or for the general public?

§         What is the purpose of the sight?  To inform or teach, to persuade, or to sell a product.

v     Objectivity

§         Is the information that is covered fact, opinion, or propaganda?

§         Does the author’s affiliation with an institution or organization appear to bias the information?

v     Accuracy

§         Are the sources for factual information clearly listed so that the information can be verified?

§         Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, or typographical errors?

v     Reliability and Credibility

§         Does the information appear to be valid and well researched, or is it unsupported my evidence?

§         What institution (company, government , university, etc.) supports this information?

v     Currency

§         Is the information current and kept up to date?  When was the website last updated?

v     Read Critically