CSP Library: Library Resources for PSY 102: Find an Electronic Source

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There are many great websites on the internet. Use this tutorial to help you determine whether the website you picked is credible.

Here is a sampling of some websites that may be helpful to use for your Annotated Bibliography:

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Mental health advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Provides educational resources.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Federal agency responsible for creating the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats.
World Health Organization
The branch of the UN dealing with health issues.
American Psychological Association (APA)
A scientific and professional organization that represents psychologists in the United States.
The New York Times
An American daily newspaper founded in 1851, based in New York City, with a worldwide readership
The Wall Street Journal
An American business-focused, English-language international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese

Not sure if the website you found is credible? Ask a librarian and we'll be happy to help you!

Use the resources on this page to help you decide if you have a credible website or web resource.

When looking at information online, use these questions to help you determine whether the source is credible:

Who created the web page?

Can you tell who wrote or created the content?
Is there an "about us" page?
Are they an expert on the topic? How can you tell if they're an expert? [Hint: Google their name to see if you can find out anything else.]

When was the web page created?

When was the web page created? Or do you know when it was last updated?
Was it published recently? Can you tell how old the information is? [Hint: In some fields and for some topics, this is very important.]

Who sponsors the information?

Can you tell who funds the web page?
What can you tell about the organization sponsoring the information?
Do they have any conflicts of interest? [Hint: Google the organization to see if you can find any other information about them.]

Is it relevant?

Is the information relevant to your topic or assignment?
What is the purpose of the website or information? Entertainment? Education? Something else?