Accounting, Economics, Finance Basics 

Almost anyone can have a web page. So some information on the Web is biased, undocumented, or just plain wrong. You will need to evaluate web sites for accuracy, audience, authority, currency, objectivity, and purpose. Here is a checklist you can use:

Accuracy:

• Does the author cite reliable sources for his or her facts?
• How does the information compare with that in other works written about this topic?

Audience:

• Who do you think the author/s of the web site are trying to reach?
• Is there a particular group or segment of society that the author/s are targeting?

Authority:

• What are the author's qualifications for writing on this subject?
• Is he or she connected with an organization that has an established reputation?

Currency:

• Does the web site include a publication date or "last updated" date?

Objectivity:

• Is the author affiliated with a particular organization that might have a bias?

Purpose:

• Is the author's purpose to inform, e.g. provide new information, current events, etc?
• Is the author's purpose to explain, e.g. describe a process, teach, etc?
• Is the author's purpose to persuade, e.g. change your mind, convince you to buy, etc?

Keep these pros and cons in mind when considering Wikipedia:

Wikipedia can be edited by anyone

Wikipedia has a high error rate but errors can be corrected more quickly than a print encyclopedia

Many professors ban its use

Use Wikipedia to be a springboard for ideas and to brainstorm keywords

Occasional vandalism, some with malicious intent,  may occur on entries

Check the accuracy of the information in a reputable encyclopedia

1. Not everything is on the Internet
2. Not everything on the Internet is Free
3. The Internet is Not Very Organized
4. There is no quality control on the Internet
5. Sources on the Internet can be harder to verify
6. The Internet is too new for some things
7. Library online resources are available 24/7
8. The Internet is a mile wide and an inch deep
9. You're already paying for the library
10. Real live people can help you use our library

This list is adapted from Mark Herring's article, "10 Reasons Why the Internet Is No Substitute for a Library",  which originally appeared in American Libraries, April 2001, p. 76-78.