We all know how to Google for information, but are you finding what you're looking for when you search? Are you finding sources that are of the best quality and appropriate? Information literacy is the practice of evaluaLet's find reliable, factual, qualified information with these research tips.
Can you tell who wrote the content? Look for an author or a group taking credit for the information. If there is no author visible on the specific page, is there an about section to learn more about the person providing the content?
When a website is published, or even when a blog post was published is important. Is the information current? There are two places to look for dates - there is the overall site publication date in the footer, and each post should have when it was added to the web.
Form and function are important for a user-friendly site. If you are looking at a food blog, can you easily find the ingredients or steps of a recipe? Do you have to sift through distracting graphics or content to find what you need? This can be annoying and take away from the quality of a website.
A website should be designed with the user in mind. Is it easy to find the sections of the website? Do all of the links work on the site? Is the content that is linked aligned with the topic? Is the writing style clear and easy to understand?
Everything has a point of view and anyone can make a claim. However, is that claim backed by evidence and reliable sources? Consider factors like confirmation bias and the halo effect as you evaluate the source.
Ads are okay, just as sponsorships are as well. This helps information get to potential consumers, but ask yourself are the ads appropriate? What is their purpose?