Website Reliability

When accessing websites there are a number of factors that should be considered when deciding if the site you are accessing is a valid or reliable source of information. These include but are not limited to:

Author/Ownership

• Who is the author or owner of the site? 
• Is the author qualified on the subject of the site?  
• Is the author promoting fact or opinion?
• Can the author be contacted?

The following indicates where the site has originated and gives you a good indication if the site is valid:

.com = a commercial organisation eg a business
.edu = a place of learning eg a school or university
.org = a non-profit organisation eg Greenpeace
.gov = a government department or level of government eg Wyong Shire Council
.mil = military
.au or .uk etc = indicates the country of origin eg au for Australia

Purpose

• What is the purpose of the site? Is the site trying to sell you something or is it purely educational? 
• Are there any biases that might be promoted? Even non-profit organisations can be biased at times.

Up to Date

• How recent is the material? This is particularly important when collecting resources for assignments.
• Is the site updated regularly and are the links maintained?

Accuracy

• Is the information contained on the site validated by other sources?
• Does the information make sense?

Further information is available at:

Board of Studies: All my own work  
http://amow.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/

Victorian Department of Education 
http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/toolkit/protect/skills.htm