Safe Searching
Want to know how to find credible and reliable information?
Know Your CHAPs!
When I teach my students about locating credible sources, I teach them this acronym, CHAP: Currency, Host, Authority, and Purpose.
Currency
No, not money! This currency has to do with, "The quality or state of being current," according to Merriam-Webster.
How current is the information you just found? If you are researching computer programming and find a website or article from 2001, this may be too out-dated for your needs. However, if you want historical background on your topic, then it just may be perfect.
Host
Who is the host of the site? What company or person maintains the website or blog? If you know that information, then you know if the information they post is biased. The domain name can help: .edu, .gov, .com, .net, .org.
Authority
Who is the author? Who wrote the information? If a website, blog, or other resource does not give you the author's name, that is a big red flag. Never trust an author who will not claim his/her work.
Purpose
What is the purpose? What is the intent of the resource, the webpage, the article, etc.? What is your purpose? Is this information relevant to your research needs?
DISCUS
A wonderful source of information for your research project. No worries about credibility here! All information has already been vetted and approved. This is a free site provided to the residents of South Carolina, managed by the SC State Library.