For instance, Pro-Tobacco information on a site sponsored by the Tobacco Industry might be considered biased or at least suspect. To find errors in the information , you will need to be very familiar with information from other sources relevant to the Internet site's information so you can compare information. And you will need to examine the site's information for contradictions and logical fallacies. You can detect ambiguity if you notice lapses in logic or insufficient support for the claims the site puts forth as well as from sloppy or purposefully vague presentation of information. Being able to determine fact from opinion is a needed skill for the researcher.
Facts are items that can be supported with verifiable or provable evidence.
Opinions are items that are evaluative, judgmental, and interpretive in nature. Check the date at the bottom of the page. If there is no date, then be suspicious of how current the information is. Using outdated material means you might miss important developments or crucial shifts in thinking concerning your research topic. Also, if you find a site that has not been modified for more than, then you might want to compare the information on the site with other sources with similar information.