 When researching on the Internet, it's important to think critically about what's found there since virtually anyone, from academic scholars to kids with computers, can post information on the web. Weighing the reliability of web sources involves considering a site's purpose, authority, timeliness, scope, documentation, audience, and format. Websites are created for a number of various purposes. To primarily inform, like this government website, or to persuade, like this page. The URL can provide a good indication of the nature of a website. Government and educational sites are often reviewed by scholars and professionals, but no matter where the information comes from, it's important to determine the site's reliability by asking questions like, does the site provide timely, current information? This information can usually be found at the bottom of the page. What is the scope of the information covered? A site like this contains many topics, but it's not really very scholarly. Would it doubt, read about the site to make sure that its publishers are reliable? What is the site intended for? Is it written for scholars, or is it written for fun? Scholarly webpages usually provide links to other sources or bibliographies that are helpful for further study. So think about your needs and your project requirements and be sure to weigh the source before citing information that may be incorrect. Trust no one, because the Internet can say anything.