There are several questions you should ask yourself when evaluating websites.

1. Who created this resource and are they qualified to speak about the topic? What does their About Us page say?
2. What is the resource about? Does it have the information you need?
3. Where does the resource get its information? Does it list references or link to outside sources?
4. When was the resource created and updated? Is the information outdated?
5. Why does the resource exist? Is it trying to sell you something?
6. How credible is the information? Are there typos and other errors?

Traditionally, websites that end in .edu (educational institutions), .gov (government agencies), or .org (nonprofit organizations) are considered more reliable than others. However, you will still need to use your best judgment! See if you can find other sources that draw similar conclusions without pointing back to your source. Investigate the organization or person that runs the website using sources and news searches outside their own website.

If you're in any doubt, use a different resource!

For more tips and additional questions to ask yourself, check out our Evaluating Resources guide.