Because there is so much information on the Web, good and bad, finding what you want is not an exact science and can be time consuming. Developing a keen sense of the credibility of sources, based on such clues as connection of author to the subject, audience, source of publication, and documentation of supporting evidence, can also help you evaluate print and other types of sources. Though many search engines rank material according to their idea of what is relevant, that doesn't mean the material is relevant to want you want or is reliable. These guidelines are to help you become familiar with various types of Web resources and the reliability of the information. A link to an association does not necessarily mean that the organization approved the content.
Much scholarly research is still only available in traditional print form.
It is safe to assume that if you have limited background in a topic and have a limited amount of time to do your research, you may not be able to get the most representative material on the subject. So be wary of making unsupportable conclusions based on a narrow range of sources. The site can give you clues about the credibility of the source. They are often informal. Individuals can post their resumes, link to favorite sites, showcase their interests and ideas.