What you need
- Website URL
- Device with Internet access
- Checklist or notebook
Every step
- 1
Check author credentials
Scroll to the article’s byline or 'About us' section. For example, is the author a climate scientist? Search their name and see if they have relevant experience. Note credentials in your checklist.
CHECKPOINT · Author’s qualifications identified and recorded. - 2
Investigate the publisher beyond its domain
Check who operates and funds the website, and what editorial or correction process it describes. A .edu or .gov address can help identify an institution, but does not make every page an authoritative source on every topic. A student blog hosted by a university is different from an official university research publication.
CHECKPOINT · You know who published the page and why that publisher is relevant to the claim. - 3
Assess quality and reliability of information
Does the site provide sources? Are facts supported by studies or references? For a climate change article, check for citations of NASA, IPCC, or peer-reviewed research.
CHECKPOINT · References and supporting evidence are listed in your notes. - 4
Check publication date and updates
Find when the article was written or updated. For data-driven topics, ensure it's recent—an article on 'global temperatures' from 2010 may be outdated.
CHECKPOINT · Article date recorded and judged current or outdated. - 5
Check the evidence and relevant context
Ask whether the page represents the underlying evidence accurately, distinguishes findings from opinion, and explains limitations. Compare the specific claim with an appropriate primary source or expert assessment. Neutral-sounding language alone does not establish accuracy, and a reliable account does not need to give equal weight to unsupported claims.
CHECKPOINT · You can explain what evidence supports the claim and what remains uncertain. - 6
Decide whether the page fits your research question
Record the author, publisher, date, source URL, evidence, and limitations. Choose whether to use the page as primary evidence, background, an example of opinion, or not at all. A polished design is not proof of reliability. If you cannot establish where an important claim comes from, find a stronger source before relying on it.
CHECKPOINT · Your notes explain how you will use the source and its limits.
Common mistakes
- Don’t trust a site solely due to its top search rank.
- Beware of sites with unknown authors and no cited sources.
- Example arguments and text are illustrative. Replace citation placeholders with sources you have actually read; support factual claims with evidence.
Finished when
Website is evaluated and noted as reliable, questionable, or unreliable for research purposes.
Questions about this task
What if the author isn’t listed?
If there’s no clear author or organizational backing, be extra cautious. Check other sources for the same information or avoid using the site in academic work.
Are Wikipedia pages reliable for research?
Wikipedia can provide a starting overview and references, but always check original sources linked at the bottom for academic or critical research.
Make these steps fit your situation.
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