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Evaluating Specific Resources

Who

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?