Before you start Googling your research topic, remember that the information you find on the Web may not be appropriate for use in academic assignments. It's always a good idea to evaluate every web source that you want to cite using the CRAAP method, but here are some general guidelines to keep in mind:
How do you tell if a website is a credible information source? Evaluate its characteristics using the CRAAP test. CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose--five criteria that you should consider in order to decide whether or not to use a source.
See the attached worksheet below for a step-by-step guide to the evaluation process.