This document discusses how to evaluate the reliability of web sites and databases as research resources. It provides tips for assessing the credibility, accuracy, reasonableness and support of a web site using the C.A.R.S. checklist. Databases are generally more reliable as they contain vetted resources from professional journals and provide citations, but require login credentials for off-campus access. The document advises finding author and publication details to evaluate a site, and that file extensions and domains do not guarantee credibility on their own.

1. Locating Reliable
Resources
Web Sites and Databases

2. Web sites
Pros
 A lot of information
available
 Quick and easily
assessable
 Provides great general
information to begin a
project
Cons
 Anyone can publish a
Web site
 Reliability of information
is not guaranteed
 No system that catalogs
and organizes all
resources
 Not always free

3. Use the C.A.R.S. checklist to
evaluate a Web site:
 Credibility
 Accuracy
 Reasonableness
 Support

4. Credibility
Goal:
To find a source that is
created by a person or
organization who
knows the subject and
who cares about its
quality
Questions:
 Is there a publishing or
sponsoring organization?
 Is the organization an
authority on the subject?
 Is the author listed?
 Is the author an authority on
the subject?
 Are there errors that indicate
a lack of quality control?

5. Accuracy
Goal:
To find a source with
information that is
current, complete, and
correct
Questions:
 Does the information on
the site agree with other
sources?
 Is the information
complete and not too
vague?
 What is the date of
publication or copyright?
 How recently has the site
been updated?

6. Reasonableness
Goal:
To find a source that is
truthful and unbiased
Questions:
 Does the author, host,
publisher, or sponsor have
a bias?
 What is the motivation or
purpose for creating the
site? (To sell a product? To
advance a viewpoint or
belief? To educate?)
 Does the author use a
slanted tone?

7. Support
Goal:
To find a source with
verifiable sources of
information
Questions
 Are the sources
listed?
 Can they be
checked?
 Is there a way to
contact the author or
organization?

8. Finding the Author
Information such as the author, host
organization, and publication date will often be
located at either the top or bottom of the page.
Sometimes you may need to look on a different
page. Try clicking on “About” or “Contact Us” for
more information.

9. File Extensions
There are no universal rules for determining the
credibility of a specific domain. Some points to
remember:
 Anyone can buy a .com, .org, or .net domain
 Faculty and students can have .edu pages; check to
make sure the site is an official school site
 The government or military approves .gov sites but
that doesn’t mean the information is true
 Blog sites give free voice to anyone

10. Tip
Create your bibliographic citation at the same
time you evaluate the site. Many of the areas
you will look at to evaluate are also needed for
the citation. And if you can’t find the information
for the citation, the site might not meet
standards.

11. Databases
Pros
 Vetted resources
 Wide range of articles
from professional and
scholarly journals
 Various types of material
are collected in one
location
 Source citations are
provided
Cons
 To access Gale
Student Resource
Center at home must
have user name and
password to log on
(tecu60273)

12. Research
Databases
Located on the SHHS Library Web
Page

13. Locating Reliable
Resources
Web Sites and Databases