Evaluation of web sites

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Quality of Web resources varies a lot! Criteria needed to evaluate Web

resources We need to evaluate:

Accuracy Authority Objectivity Currency Coverage

EvaluationEvaluation

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It is often difficult to tell

what something is where it came from how it got there who the author is Don't you think if it was important

enough to put out on the Internet, people should give pertinent information about it? But this is not always the case!

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Accuracy

How reliable and free from error is the information?

Are there editors and fact checkers? How does this information compare

with that in other sources in the field?

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Accuracy

Almost anyone can publish on the Webare they reliable? accurate? truthful? is it meaningful? thoughtful?

researched? Many Web resources not verified by

editors and/or fact checkers Web standards to ensure accuracy

not fully developed

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Authority

What are the author’s qualifications for writing on the subject? What is her/his occupation, position,

education, experience?How reputable is the publisher?

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Authority

Often difficult to determine authorship of Web resources

If author’s name listed, his/her qualifications frequently absent

Publisher responsibility often not indicated

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Objectivity

Is the information presented with a minimum of bias?

To what extent is the information trying to sway the opinion of the audience?

Goals/aims of persons or groups presenting material often not clearly stated

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Objectivity

To what audience is the author writing? Is this reflected in the writing style,

vocabulary, or tone? Does the material inform? explain?

persuade? Is there sufficient evidence? What conclusions are drawn?

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Currency

Is the content of the work up-to-date? Is the publication date clearly indicated? Dates not always included on Web pages If included, a date may have various

meanings: Date first created Date placed on Web Date last updated

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Coverage

What topics are included in the work?

To what depth are topics explored?

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Additional Challenges

Use of Hypertext Links Use of Frames Search Engines Can Retrieve

Pages Out of Context Marketing-Oriented Web Pages Blending of Entertainment,

Information, and Advertising

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Additional Challenges

Software Requirements May Limit Access

Instability of Web Pages Susceptibility of Web Pages to

Alteration

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Use of Hypertext Links

Quality of Web pages linked to original Web page may vary

Coping Strategy: Evaluate each Web page

independently

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Use of Frames

Each frame displays a separate Web page

Coping Strategy:Evaluate each frame independently

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Search Engines Can Retrieve Web Pages Out of Context

Coping Strategy: Always try to return to the home page

to determine the source of information

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Marketing-Oriented Web Pages

In other media, there usually are clear visual and/or audio distinctions between advertising and information

On the Web, distinctions between advertising and information can become extremely blurred

Coping Strategy: Try to determine if advertising and

informational content are supplied by the same person or organization

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Software Requirements May Limit Access to Information

Full access may require additional software Browsers may alter the appearance of Web

Pages Be aware that software limitations may:

Alter how much information is obtainable Alter the appearance of information obtained

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Instability of Web Pages

Web pages may move or disappear without notice

User may not be able to refer back to a Web page

Try to determine the stability of your source

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Web Pages Susceptible to Alteration

Accidental alteration Deliberate alterationAttempt to verify information using

other sources

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Web Page Evaluation Procedure

Step 1: Identify type of page Step 2: Use appropriate checklist Step 3: Based on checklist criteria,

determine relative quality of page

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Web Page Evaluation Procedure

Step 1: Identify the Type of Web Page

Business/Marketing Informational News Personal Entertainment

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Step 2: Use the Appropriate Checklist Answer questions with Yes or No

Step 3: Based on the Checklist Criteria, Determine the Relative Quality of the Web Page

The greater number of checklist questions answered yes, the more likely the page is of higher informational quality

Web Page Evaluation Procedure

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Conclusion

Web evaluation techniques are only beginning to be developed

Establishing evaluation procedures will be an ongoing evolutionary process

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Links to Sites/Pages Which Can Be Used to Discuss Authority and Accuracy

Tobacco Control Archives (http://www.library.ucsf.edu/tobacco/index.html) WWW.CIOLEK.COM Asia Pacific Research Online (http://www.ciolek.com)

The Onion (http://www.theonion.com)Dihydrogen Monoxide (http://www.dhmo.org)United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (http://www.ushmm.org) Institute for Historical Review (http://www.ihr.org)

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Links to Sites/Pages Which Can Be Used to Discuss Objectivity

The National Right to Life Committee (http://www.nrlc.org)NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) (http://www.naral.org) Consumer Reports Online (http://www.consumerreports.org) BeefNutrition.org (http://www.beefnutrition.org)

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Links to Sites/Pages Which Can Be Used to Discuss Currency and Coverage

USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com) Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 Edition (http://humanities.uchicago.edu/forms_unrest/webster.form.html CNN (htp://www.cnn.com)

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Links to Sites/Pages Which Can Be Used to Discuss Additional Evaluation Challenges

Marketing Oriented Web Pages (Blending Advertising and Entertainment or Information) No Smoke Home Page (http://www.smokefreekids.com/)Melatonin Central (http://www.melatonin.com) The "Alternative" White House (http://www.whitehouse.net) The Official White House (http://www.whitehouse.gov)Chips Ahoy (http://www.chipsahoy.com)Joe Boxer (http://www.joeboxer.com) CourtTV (http://www.trutv.com) Time Warner's Pathfinder (http://www.pathfinder.com/welcome)

Sites Which May Require Additional Software to View Selected PagesPBS Kids (http://www.pbs.org/kids)

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Examples of the Various Types of Web Pages

Advocacy Web Pages Physicians for Social Responsibility (http://www.psr.org)The National Anti-Vivisection Society (http://www.navs.org)

Business/Marketing Web PagesLands' End Direct Merchants (http://www.landsend.com/) General Motors (http://gm.com)

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Informational Web PagesEnvironmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov)OncoLink (http://www.oncolink.upenn.edu)Buddhist Studies WWW Virtual Library (http://www.ciolek.com/WWWVL-Buddhism.html)Smithsonian Institution (http://www.si.edu)

News Web PagesWashington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com) Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com)

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Personal Web Pages Larry Wall’s Home Page

(http://www.wall.org/~larry/)Timothy Burke's Home Page (http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/tburke1)