WHO: Refers to the author, publisher, or organization of the information
It's important to ask:
- Is there an identifiable author of the information? If not, that may be a red flag. Note: Authorship can refer to a person, publisher, or organization.
- What are the author's credentials? The authority of the author lends credibility to the information. Are they experts in the field? Remember that authority is contextual. Being a rocket scientist would not give someone authority to write about behavior modification in the classroom.
- Has the author published on this subject before?
- Does the author have any relevant affiliations with a respected university or organization? What can you find about the author online?
- What is the author's interest (if any) in this information (commercial gain)? Do they have a particular agenda (to sway opinion)?
Additional Internet Source Consideration:
- Is there clearly identifiable author, publisher, or organization listed on the site?
- What can you find out about this author?