Studies need to be funded. Think about asking yourself these questions to evaluate the information presented and to check for any biases
| Accuracy/Bias | Does the information presented appear truthful / impartial or incorrect / biased? |
|
Funding |
Who funded this study? Was it government funded, private donations, a private company? Hint: Government-funded, private donations? |
| Leadership | Who was in charge of the study / who runs the entity that funded it? What Information can you find on them? Hint: Can you find more through a web search? |
| Mission | What is the stated purpose of the study and mission of the entity that funded it? |
| Reputation | What is the reputation of the authors and the funders? Are they well-known, well-regarded? Have you heard of them before? What information can you find on them? |
Quick Tip: Many times clicking on an author, publication, or organization name in a database (like PubMed) record will take you to more information on the entity. However, you can also find information by running a web search.
Use these tips to evaluate the websites of organizations. Keep in mind that these are only a starting point and not guaranteed to be failsafe in every situation.
|
Accuracy/Bias |
Does the information presented on the website appear truthful / impartial, or incorrect / biased? |
| Funding | How is the organization funded? Hint: Government-funded, private donations? |
| Leadership | Who runs / founded the organization? What can you find out about them? Hint: Can you find more through a web search? |
| Mission |
What is the stated or implied mission of the organization? Hint: Look at the "About" page. |
| Reputation | Is this a well-known, well-regarded organization? Have you heard of it before? |
| Web Address | Does the URL end in: .edu, .gov, .org? Note: This is not always full proof. URLs of all types can be bought. |
