Print sources

Internet sources

Publication Process

Go through an extensive publication process that includes editing and article review. The process has fact-checkers, multiple reviewers, and editors to ensure quality of publication

Anyone with a computer and access to the Internet can publish a website or electronic document. Most web documents do not have editors, fact-checkers, or other types of reviewers

Authorship and Affiliations

Clearly indicate who the author is, what organization (s) he or she is affiliated with, and when his or her work was published

Authorship and affiliations are difficult to determine on the Internet. Some sites may have author and sponsorship listed, but many do not

Sources and Quotations

Most external sources of information and direct quotations are clearly marked and identified

Sources the author used or referred to in the text may not be clearly indicated in an Internet source.

Bias and Special Interests

While bias certainly exists in traditional publications, printing is more expensive and difficult to accomplish. Most major publishers are out to make a profit and will either not cater to special interest groups or will clearly indicate when they are catering to special interest groups

The purpose of the online text may be misleading. A website that appears to be factual may actually be persuasive and/or deceptive.

Author Qualifications

Qualifications of an author are almost always necessary for print sources. Only qualified authors are likely to have their manuscripts accepted for publication.

Even if the author and purpose of a website can be determined, the qualifications of the author are not always given.

Publication Information

Publication information such as date of publication, publisher, author, and editor are always clearly listed in print publications

Dates of publication and timeliness of information are questionable on the internet. Dates listed on websites could be the date posted, date updated, or a date may not be listed at all.