GUIDELINES for Editors

Reliability

Determining reliability includes three distinct issues: the link, the source (or authority), and the content itself.

First the URL should work. That is, when the link is selected it should go directly to the page referenced and load without serious delay. Sites that take too long to load, that redirect after several seconds or that don't load at all are not appropriate for bmesource. In addition, sites that require registration, login or other blocking mechanism are not useful unless the site clearly stands above all other similar conten sites, and then the link should be qualified (i.e. requires login following the link name)

Questions to ask about reliability:

Is the owner of the content a reliable resource for such content? In other words, are they are reasonable authority over the subject matter? For instance, sites about medical specialties written by parents of children who have a disease are probably not reliable enough. Sites from major medical establishments, universities, research organizations or device companies are more appropriate.

Where did the information come from originally? If one can tell the original source, determine if that source fits the first criteria. If undeterminable, assume content was created by the serving site.

Does the organization take responsibility for the content? Is there language on the site that indicates such?

Is the content current? When was the page last updated? Depending on the type of content, regular updates may or may not be required. Examine the updated date and compare that to the materials temporal quality. Sites that discuss current procedures in medicine, for instance, should have reasonable update dates. Sites that discuss historical context have less importance placed on the update date.

Is the content accurate? Section Editors can best determine the accuracy of the content and are one of the primary reasons for assisting on bmesource. However, those who submit links should at least attempt to determine accuracy. How does this sites content compare to other similar-content sites?

Does content include reference materials, and if so, how reliable are they? Check references on any sites that provide them to ensure that original sources are equally reliable.

Is the site portrayed in a professional manner? Design of the site, organization of the content and readability (see that section for further information) all reflect on the professionalism of the site and can help determine if the site is a reliable one.

Is there any evidence of bias? For company sites in particular, make sure that content linked to from bmesource does not reflect any particular bias toward a product, procedure or company. Many company sites provide very comprehensive, non-biased material in support of their products and these sites can be linked to in bmesource.

Is there a correction mechanism? Sites where contents is well maintained reflect higher reliability and this should include mechanisms to contact a webmaster or content specialist if errors are noted.