The CARS Checklist:
Credibility

Few Web sites will have every attribute on the CARS checklist:

Credibility
Accuracy
Reasonableness
Support 

Even if some sites do, it doesn't mean they are the highest quality information that you can find. But the checklist is still a good basic way to decide whether information is likely to be reliable.

The key to Credibility is based on how trustworthy the source is and the author’s credentials, among other things. 

Optimally, you will find a site that is authoritative and supplies some good evidence that allows you to trust it.

THE SOURCE:

• What makes it believable (or not)? 

• How does the source know this information? 

• What is the origin of the report? (i.e., is it the FBI home page or Joe Schmoe's home page?)

• Would the source have an obvious bias? 

• Are the quotes attributed to someone who would actually be privy to the information?

THE AUTHOR'S CREDENTIALS:

• What is the author's education, training and/or experience in the field? Look for biographical information and the author's title or position of employment

• Which features of the site convince you that they know what they are talking about? Which make you doubt their knowledge or expertise?

• What is the author's reputation or standing among his or her peers?

• Does a well-known and well-respected  organization (corporate, governmental, or non-profit) sponsor the information or authorship?

CLUES TO A LACK OF CREDIBILITY:

• Anonymity. In other words, the authors or sources don't want to be held accountable for the information they are putting up.

• Lack of Quality Control. Does it look like the site authors made everything up, or is it quoting content from other sources that are reviewed and therefore more reliable?

• Bad grammar or misspelled words. Yes, it counts even after you graduate from college. More than two or three spelling or grammar errors on a Web site should be a red flag.