Evaluate the Information

REMEMBER: the Web is a self-publishing medium. That means anyone in the world can publish a web site. So when you're using a web site for research, look for:

1) Purpose - What is it? Web-only page, journal article, government publication, product sales pitch? Who is the audience and what is the goal of the site?

2) Authorship/source - Who is the author? What expertise does he or she have on this topic? Who sponsors the site? Check the domain name to see if it is a university, business, organization, or an individual.

3) Content - depth/comprehensiveness of information, accuracy, currency

4) Design and usability - clean, logical, easy to use