Coastal Services Center

Sites that meet a higher number of the credibility indicators listed below are signs that the information provided is more likely to be reliable.

1. How did you find the site?
Indicators of credibility:

___ The site was recommended or referred by another, trusted source (this source could be print, on-line, or by word of mouth).

2. What is the organization behind the site?
Indicators of credibility:

___ The site was created by, or is part of, a known institution.

___ That organization provides full contact information and can be contacted by mail or telephone, or visited in person.

___ The organization identifies itself as educational (edu), or a governmental (gov), or nonprofit (org).

3. Who is the author?
Indicators of credibility:

___ The author was referred by another trusted source

___ Others have quoted the author's work in the field.

___ The author's site is linked to often on the Web (can use Google to find out; a Web version of citation analysis).

4. How does the author demonstrate his/her breadth of knowledge of the topic?
Indicators of credibility:

___ Author cites theory and background where relevant.

___ Author quotes and/or paraphrases others' work and writings.

___ Author demonstrates knowledge of others' work in the field.

___ Author builds on others' work by adding new insights and by raising new questions.

5. How does the author present his/her work?
Indicators of credibility:

___ Author describes his/her methods of research, how conclusions were reached.

___ Author provides or offers or links to any supporting evidence.

___ Author identifies any limitations of his/her research.

6. In what manner does the author present his/her material?
Indicators of credibility:

___ Author's writing is clear.

___ Author's writing is logical.

___ Author's writing is organized.

___ Author's writing shows evidence of thoughtfulness and analysis.

___ Author's writing shows a caring and even a passion for the topic.

7. What evidence is there of bias?
Indicators of credibility:

___ The organization and/or author behind the site has no overtly stated political/ideological or other predetermined overriding agenda that would automatically detract from the credibility of the data.

___ If there is an overriding political/ideological agenda, any research methods utilized (e.g., any polls or surveys performed, sources used) can stand scrutiny on their own.

8. Date and Currency

___ There is a published date on the Web page.

___ The date is clear as to its meaning (e.g., date of original source, date Web site created, date most recently updated, etc.).

___ The date is timely for the purposes of your research.

9. Completeness

___ For those sites where there is an existing equivalent source in some other medium (print, CD-ROM, on-line database), the data presented on the Web are as complete as in the other media; or, if the data are not as complete, the site describes the differences in coverage.