Which practice best helps determine the credibility of a webpage for research?

• A. Authorship is clearly stated, with verifiable credentials.
• B. Flashy graphics indicate reliability.
• C. A high number of comments indicates credibility.
• D. A personal blog with a slogan is credible.

Answer: (A)

Assessing the credibility of a webpage hinges on who wrote it and whether you can verify their qualifications. When authorship is clearly stated and the author’s credentials are verifiable, you can judge whether the person has the expertise to speak on the topic and whether there might be biases or conflicts of interest. This transparency also lets you cross-check the information with other reputable sources and look for supporting evidence such as citations, dates, and the publishing venue. Flashy graphics don’t prove accuracy, a high number of comments can reflect popularity more than reliability, and a personal blog with a slogan often lacks the expert backing needed to trust the claims.