Websites can be extremely valuable sources of information, but it is important to establish their bias and reliability. Some of the most reliable websites are government and academic sites (often .gov and .edu). Well-established organizations are also good sources of information, but many of these do have a particular bias. It may take a deeper look to establish reliability. News sites are also good for information, though there may be errors and bias here as well. 

Below are some questions to ask when evaluating whether a website is reliable and useful for your research project. 

• Authority - Who is the author? Are they knowledgeable on this topic? Why or why not?

• Objectivity - What is the purpose of this content? Is there a bias? Do the authors acknowledge the bias? Do they present other perspectives? Are their arguments backed up with evidence?

• Reliability - Do they cite their sources? Are their sources reliable? Does this information go through any sort of review? 

• Currency - Is the information current? How current do you need the information to be? Are the sources listed current? 

• Relevance - Does this information contribute to your project? 

For additional information, visit our guide on Evaluating Your Sources.