Evaluating the credibility of english web sources as a foreign-language searcher

In this paper, we present preliminary findings from an exploratory mixed-methods study of foreign-language searchers' credibility assessment of web documents when searching in English. Findings highlight a set of criteria used by these searchers to assess the credibility and accuracy of English web sources, the most frequent of which relates to source reputation. Foreign language searchers are more likely to trust an English language source if it is familiar or if it is the official source of information. Design aesthetics and functionality also have an impact on credibility. Findings have implications for the design of online sources that better support credibility assessments of foreign-language searchers.