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Credible Internet Research Sources

What Questions Should You Ask About a Source?

Be sure to ask these questions about every source you come across!

•WHO created the source?
    •Is there an author?
    •Are there credentials, and if so, what kind?

•WHEN was the source created?
    •Is there a date, and if so, is it relevant to your topic?

•WHY was the source created?
    •Inform
    •Entertain
    •Sell for Profit

•WHO was the source created for?
    •Professionals
    •Consumers
    •Experts, Scholars & Students

•Are there other sources cited to support the argument?
•Are there advertisements?

Evaluating Internet Resources

In this day and age of enormous amounts of information online, it can be difficult to decipher which online sources you can trust! 

It is good practice to critically evaluate any online source you want to use, whether it's for academic work or personal use. There are many options for finding articles through our subscription databases, and those databases are filled with materials safe to use for research! 

On this LibGuide, you will find a list of sites. organized by subject, that are reputable research sources. Here is a short guide for recognizing reputable sources:

Government Websites (.gov)

  • All legitimate government websites end in .gov. Examples include: Census Bureau, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Center for Disease Control (CDC), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), & Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Organizational Sources (.org)
  • Many organizational websites are quality sources that you can use as sources. These websites end in .org. Examples include: Pew Research Center, Open Research Library, National Public Radio (NPR), and Internet Archive.
  • NOTE: Some organizational websites are very biased. Ensure you are evaluating these sources and if you are unsure, ask a librarian!
Commercial Websites and Network Websites (.com & .net)
  • It is good practice to avoid .com websites unless you specifically need information from that website. Most commercial sites are for profit and do not prioritize quality information.
  • Network websites end in .net and often have the same priorities as .com websites. Be cautious when using these websites.
Educational Websites (.edu)
  • Colleges and university websites end in .edu, making them easy to identify. Given the academic nature of these institutions, they are generally reliable sources.
Sites with Advertisements
  • Websites with excessive advertisements should be avoided. The only exception to this is news agency websites.

If you are still skeptical, ask a librarian! Alternatively, you can do a quick Google search to see if the information you found is validated elsewhere.