Credibility of Internet Material - Homework

This article offers helpful hints to assess the credibility of information of WWW resources. It takes an analytical approach to evaluating WWW resources and lists practical ways a person can do this. Although much of the information I was already aware of, I found several great reminders and gained a better perspective of WWW resources in light of academia.

The first good reminder I came upon was that the website being visited should offer credibility in various forms. Of course we all wonder what experience or credentials a web author might have but have they published any peer reviewed or scholarly journal articles? Although this isn’t a requirement for a credible website I think it offers a lot more weight than someone who hasn’t published a scholarly piece.

Another good reminder I read was that credible internet material should include citations, references, and authoritative sources. I think people often get into the bad habit of breezing over or assuming that a web resource is credible if it looks professional. However, looking for citations and references is a way to double check the information.

Lastly, this article has provided me with a perspective I have never thought of before, that research on some subjects are only available in traditional print form. This is important to remember when substantive information cannot be found online but may be available through peer reviewed articles or through print media.