First, they must be knowledgeable on diet and nutrition. The internet is full of websites that were started five minutes ago. That's not to say corporate sites should be excluded entirely. Also, information that claims miraculous results is usually not reliable. How do I know if a source is credible? Who is the author? Sloppy writing is another bad sign. A biased source will only present facts that support one view of an event or a topic. But be wary. However, if you keep the following tips in mind, you can create an arsenal of solid information. A good way to eliminate uncertainty is to establish what makes a source reliable and credible. You can find out which other websites link to the site you're researching by conducting a link-specific Google search. Many writers or bloggers these days have secret agendas to either sell products or deliberately mislead readers. And if they're trying to sell you something, chances are whatever information they're presenting will be tilted in favor of their product. A positive source of health information is one that is free, direct, and unbiased. When in doubt about the credibility of a source, trust that you can ask your primary care physician or GP (general practitioner) any questions. in Journalism from Columbia University and has worked for the Associated Press and the New York Daily News. Sites run by companies and business—their websites usually end in .com—are more often than not trying to sell you something. For the unwary, inexperienced journalist or researcher, such sites can present a minefield of possible problems. If lots of sites are linking to your site, and those sites seem reputable, that's a good sign.
Look for material where the writer is a medical professional who has a respectable education and credentials. If the information you find has no author listed or the publisher seems untrustworthy, feel free to disregard it. Steer clear. If a site looks poorly designed and amateurish, chances are it was created by amateurs. Second, they should have interests that are aligned with the consumer—promoting a healthy lifestyle. Making sure that our source is giving all of the facts is an important part of making sure a source is accurate. Whenever you are looking at a source on the internet, you should check several things to verify that the information is credible. Domain – Some domains such as .com, .org, and .net can be purchased and used by any individual. One way to check: Look for a "last updated" date on the page or site. Finally, this trusted and credible source must be able to provide relevant, actionable advice. So what makes a source credible? For the unwary, inexperienced journalist or researcher, such sites can present a minefield of possible problems. You can ask the following questions to determine if a source is credible. With that in mind, here are eight ways to tell if a website is reliable. This is an obvious point: Look for websites that specialize in the kind of information you're seeking. Write down your questions, consider information with a skeptical eye and bring your queries to a trusted physician. He or she should be able to not only resolve your concerns either through their knowledge or referral to a specialist, but also tell you which information sources you can rely on in the future. Where was the research published? So if you're writing a story on a flu outbreak, check out medical websites, such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and so on. But be careful: Just because a website is professionally designed doesn't mean it's reliable. We’ve found that there are three characteristics that make a source credible and trustworthy. There are many factors that make a source credible. © Copyright 2020 - doctorshealthdigest.com Contact Why is evaluating where your health information comes from important?As Isaac Newton once said, “Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.” When researching health questions, it can often feel like simple questions can quickly become convoluted.
Once you feel you have found a useful source, look at the material critically. Health care providers trust and use research published in credible, peer-reviewed scientific journals. Many sources of information about DES are available. However, the domain .edu is reserved for colleges and universities, while .gov denotes a government website. Any claims ought to be easily backed up by scientific research. These things include the source's authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage. Regardless of what type of sources you use, they must be credible. What you want are sites associated with trusted institutions that have been around for a while and have a proven track record of reliability and integrity. Students post thousands of questions with sources every week on Packback.

Try to find information that is peer-reviewed, which means the data has been read and approved by knowledgeable researchers and experts. Wikipedia articles should be based on reliable, published sources, making sure that all majority and significant minority views that have appeared in those sources are covered (see Wikipedia:Neutral point of view).If no reliable sources can be found on a topic, Wikipedia should not have an article on it. By using ThoughtCo, you accept ourThe Myth About Learning How to Make Ricin from the Internet5 Interactive Social Studies Websites for Every Classroom Though it can seem overwhelming to take control of your health concerns, it can be useful to keep simplicity at the forefront of your mind. He has written and taught journalism for over 25 years. Reputable websites often link to each other. Publications from universities or legitimate research institutes can also be valuable. Articles or studies whose authors are named are often—though not always—more reliable than works produced Enter the following text into the Google search field, replacing "[WEBSITE]" with the domain of the site you're researching: Knowing if the information can be trusted can be difficult. Not only do the sources strengthen arguments, but they also serve as a fact-checking tool and provide context for rich conversations. 1. Look for Established Institutions . Credible sources are written by authors respected in their fields of study.