Evaluating Websites: Bias
Depending on the purpose of a website, information
may be presented from different viewpoints and may
contradict information found on other web sites. Here
are some tips to help you determine if there is any
bias in the information you are considering:
- Trace the URL back to the parent institution.
Their purpose may influence the validity of your
source.
- The domain type might influence the nature of
the information you are viewing:
.com - a commercial site. They might be
trying to sell you something, so beware of
self-promotional language.
.edu - an academic site, but examine the
page's content. Is it a library web page, or a
student's pet project?
.gov - reliable because the document is
from a U.S. government affiliated site, but it
might be easier to use a paper source.
.org - used by non-profit groups such as
public interest organizations, religious groups,
and think tanks. These sites may be biased towards
the organization's point of view.
Quick Review
A .gov site is more likely to provide
objective information on a product
than a .com or .org site.
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