Evaluating a Website for Credibility
First name Last name
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Professor’s Name
Foundational Concepts and Applications
NR500
Date and year
Evaluating a Website for Credibility
It is important to obtain information from reliable and credible sources, especially when it
pertains to one’s health. “Health information seekers frequently use the most convenient means
available to obtain information online” (Anderson & Klemm, 2008). Many Internet users get
health information from well-known search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing. The user is
responsible for determining if the information on the site is from a reliable and credible source
(Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the credibility
of the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is an
organization providing people worldwide with credible, up-to-date health related information. It
provides information on diseases, treatments, healthy living, outbreaks, vaccinations, prevention
and much more. The web address is http://www.cdc.gov/contact/accessibility.html. The website
has a domain of .gov, which means its a government agency. The website is accessible through
search engines such as Google, Yahoo, or Bing by typing Centers for Disease Control or CDC in
the search bar. The website was chosen for its impact on the nations health through its research,
public education, training, and expertise in infectious diseases and health related topic. It is
aimed for health care providers, educators, students, policy makers, and anyone wanting health
information (http://www.cdc.gov, n.d.).
Analysis of the Website
The following five criteria were used to evaluate the CDC website for credibility:
Authority
The website provides information that is reviewed by experts such as researchers, health...