As with books and journals you need to evaluate information that you find on the open web. Verifying the authenticity, reliability and suitability of online content can be achieved by applying techniques such as The CRAAP Test described in detail below.
The CRAAP test is an effective and simple mechanism for critically evaluating sources for use in your academic projects and assignments. Developed by the Library at California State University, Chico it will empower you by assessing sources in terms of the following five criteria:
1. Currency Is the website current, providing the 'created' date and 'last updated' information? For example, medical and scientific information usually needs to be current. But currency alone doesn’t verify the credibility of this type of resource. Does the website mention/link to a study or source? Look up the source/study. Do you think it’s being accurately reflected and reported? Can you confirm their quotes elsewhere?
Check the following
2. Relevance It is easy to go off on a tangent when searching for information online, so always ask yourself is this information relevant to the research you are doing?
3. Authority Who wrote the content? Is the author listed and what does the author know about the subject?
If you are trying to take a stand on an issue, a biased source may be acceptable as long as it is coming from a reliable source, someone with authority. Ask yourself the following questions:
3. Accuracy Is the online resource objective, truthful, correct? Does it present both sides of an issue? Or is the information presented to sway the audience to a particular point of view? Who is the audience--a certain political group, adults, children, researchers? Depending on your purpose for using the web resource, the intended audience needs to be taken into consideration.
5. Purpose Why is this information on the internet?