AUTHORITATIVE: You should make sure that the main sources for your research are authoritative and reliable.  That is, they possess solid knowledge about the information you’re seeking.  You wouldn’t ask your little brother for medical information; you’d ask a doctor or nurse.  Likewise, if you’re using print or electronic resources, you should make sure the information is backed up by facts from a reputable source.  

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Are there claims that lack documentation or sources to support them?

Are the authors qualified (or was their work reviewed by qualified people)?

• Most websites have an “about” link at the bottom that describes the authors and organizations running the site.

• Reputable sources usually list author’s title and contact information: “Mrs. Bergen is a school library media specialist at Jordan Elbridge High School.”  

• Many library databases point out peer reviewed journals and articles.  These will often note this within the article: “this article was submitted June 2007, accepted August 2007.”  Many informational websites, such as medical advice communities, may instead list that the discussion is moderated by an advisory board.

Ex: http://www.webmd.com/policies/about-editorial-policy

Does the author back up the information with further reading or works cited?

• Bibliographies, end notes, and click-through references not only give the author credibility, but they also give you another place to find information for your research.
  

• This is where many “web 2.0” websites fall behind: Wikipedia entries may lack sources or be written by authors who do not understand their issue completely.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Articles_lacking_sources_from_June_2006