10_Ways_to_Determine_Internet_Credibility

10 ways to determine information credibility on the Internet The first way to identify credible information on the internet is by finding out under what authority was the information posted. A good deteminating factor is if the author is a well-known and well-regarded name you recognize. When the an author is not recognize we have to verify if, the author is mentioned in a positive fashion by another author or another person you trust as an authority, if the information found is linked to the author’s internet document from another document you trust; the Web/Internet document you are reading gives biographical information, including the author's position, institutional affiliation and address; biographical information is available by linking to another document; this enables you to judge whether the author’s credentials allow him/her to speak with authority on a given topic; if none of the above, there is an address and telephone number as well as an e-mail address for the author in order to request further information on his or her work and professional background. An e- mail address alone gives you no more information than you already have. A second way to determine credibility, and one the least amount of people perform, is to check the author's credentials. Just because the credentials are posted, does not mean they are true. Credentials that simply establish a person's identity are very widely used. Documentation usually consists of an identity card (sometimes a credential that is also used for other purposes, such as an automobile driver's license), a badge (often machine-readable), etc., issued by a trusted third party after some form of identity verification. Many identification documents use photographs to help ensure their association with their legitimate holders. Some also incorporate biometric information, passwords, PINs, and so on to further reduce the opportunities for fraud. Identification credentials are among the most widely counterfeited credentials. Most identification documents are issued for a lifetime, but some must be periodically renewed, particularly if they have other functions besides identification. Checking the purpose of the posted information is a third way of determining the credibility of information. What is the primary purpose of the information posted, is it educational or are they trying to sell us something' Purpose is a result, end, mean, aim, or goal of an action intentionally undertaken[1], or of an object being brought into use or existence, whether or not the purpose was a primary or secondary effect. It is possible that an intentional act may have multiple purposes, only one of which is a primary intention while the remainder are secondary intentions. For example, the introduction of a gene into a species of rice may have the primary intention of providing resistance to disease and a secondary intention of reducing nutritional value. The diminished nutritional value, though perhaps regrettable, would be a secondary intention in that it is a known effect willingly accepted. What is the purpose of the information' to inform' teach' sell' entertain' persuade' Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear' Is the information fact' opinion' propaganda' Does the point of view appear objective and impartial' Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases' Accuracy is a fourth way to verify the credibility of information found online. Is the information free of errors and write in a correct way, for example proper nouns, dates and essencial dates. The accuracy of factual information can help you judge the credibility of the author. Accuracy of information can also provide clues to possible bias in the resource under investigation. Always go outside of a website and use search engine to find credible resources that confirm or refute the facts under investigation. Find at least three sources that agree on the same data point. If you can't find three credible resources that confirm the data, be suspicious! Where does the information come from' Is the information supported by evidence' Has the information been reviewed or refereed' Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge' Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion' Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors' Checking to see when the data was last updated on a website is a fifth way to help determine the credibility of information. This is known as the timeliness or currency of the information (Hammett, 1999, Appendix). When was the information published or posted' Has the information been revised or updated' Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic' Are the links functional' A sixth way to help determine credibility of information found on the Internet is to take into consideration the coverage provided. The importance of the information for your needs. Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question' Who is the intended audience' Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)' Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use' Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper' Seventh, one can take information found, and validate it. The eighth way one can determine credibility, checking the integrity of information, sounds like common sense, but this is not always done. Number nine is to check the objectivity, or bias, of the material. Make sure to take notice of the organization presenting the material (Hammett, 1999). Last, but not least, a tenth way of helping to determine the credibility of information found on the Internet is comparison.