Take a few minutes to browse the website, MedlinePlus. What makes it credible? Evaluate the following websites based upon the 5Ws (and H): Who, What, Where, When, Why and How.

Consider the following:

• Is there is an easily identifiable author. (Remember that authorship can refer to an organization or publisher, not just a person)?
• Are active/live links available leading to additional sources of information, providing comprehensive coverage of this topic?
• What is the website domain (.edu, .org, .gov, etc.)?
• Are both the last updated and last reviewed dates displayed on this site the same?
• Is the purpose of the site to inform or persuade?
• Is the site easy to navigate? Does it contain flashy graphics and/or advertisements?

After browsing the webpage from the National Library of Medicine, can we trust that it passes the criteria as a credible website source? If answering yes, then chances are the website is a source of credible information. If answering no, then you may want to consider an alternate source.