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.