Authority / Source

Who is responsible for the webpage?


Find out who is responsible for a site by locating answers to the questions below.



NOTE: The more difficult it is to find information about the author and/or the source of a site, the more reservations you should have about using it.

Authorship

Is it easy to identify who is responsible for the contents of the site?

Is the web page signed?

Is there a way to locate information about the author's expertise or credentials?

Does the author show expertise relating to the subject matter presented?


If you answered "NO" to any of the above questions, here are a few more questions you should ask:

Are the author's qualifications available on the web page?

Are there links to biographical information or other documents containing information about the author?

Does the site that linked you to this one provide information about this page's author?

Did you link from a site you trust?

Is there an email address available from which you can request academic or professional background?

Is the author affiliated with an educational institution, a reputable organization or the government?


Sponsor / Publisher

Can you identify the sponsor of the site? (The sponsor and author may not be the same.)

Is the sponsor reliable?

 Does this site reside on a personal Internet account or is it part of an official site?


If you have difficulty answering some of the questions listed above or want more information about a site, the Strategies page will provide suggestions for identifying author / source information.