How to Find Reference Sources Online
Finding resources online is as simple as typing in an item you want information about in a search engine and clicking enter, or is it? One thing you must be careful of is the source giving the information. Anyone can put anything they wish online whether it is true or not. So when doing research online, you must be careful to check your source.
As an example, if you look up dieting you will find over 18 million responses listed. In the first few pages there are some really great sites that utilize doctors, some of the best weight control diets ever known (and proven) plus many that are out and out gimmicks that do not work. How do you tell the difference?
This is where you have to do some research of your own. If the site lists no author or source, stay away from it. If it has an author, check their credentials to see what their background is. Verify if they are accredited in any scholastic or institutional area.
Look at the URL of the site. If it has .edu or .gov at the end of the URL, it is most likely a reputable site. Many of the .org are also reputable, but you need to look at those more closely as they are just non-profit organizations and can be not reputable in some cases. Just take your time and do some research before taking your resource as gospel truth.