Inquiry Project:Finding and Using Internet

Information

Bridget BurkeCEP 806

Professor WongSeptember 2007

Ideas, Predictions, andIdeas, Predictions, and ExplanationsExplanations

With the abundance of information found on the internet it With the abundance of information found on the internet it can be very difficult for anyone from children to adults to can be very difficult for anyone from children to adults to locate accurate information on good sites to use as a locate accurate information on good sites to use as a reference.reference.

The World Wide web is growing rapidly, unpredictably, The World Wide web is growing rapidly, unpredictably, unevenly, and without the familiar guideposts of unevenly, and without the familiar guideposts of established publishers and vetting procedures. As the established publishers and vetting procedures. As the web assumes ever greater importance in education, web assumes ever greater importance in education, research, and daily life, these phenomena deserve more research, and daily life, these phenomena deserve more critical examination (Bertram, Bruce – Credibility of the critical examination (Bertram, Bruce – Credibility of the Web).Web).

In Bruce’s article, In Bruce’s article, Digital Content: The Babel of Digital Content: The Babel of CyberspaceCyberspace, he goes on to say, “The Web today , he goes on to say, “The Web today hides its precious treasures behind a greater hides its precious treasures behind a greater mass of semiprecious or junk-grade texts. mass of semiprecious or junk-grade texts. Moreover, it holds worse than useless works. As Moreover, it holds worse than useless works. As Borges would surely have surmised, it contains Borges would surely have surmised, it contains libelous portrayals, pornography, hate sites, and libelous portrayals, pornography, hate sites, and simple falsehoods.”simple falsehoods.”

Thus I wanted to conduct this inquiry to take a Thus I wanted to conduct this inquiry to take a closer look at how we as adults do this. I then closer look at how we as adults do this. I then can conduct a similar inquiry once I am teaching can conduct a similar inquiry once I am teaching to compare adults with children.to compare adults with children.

Can taking a collection of both good and bad Can taking a collection of both good and bad websites under close evaluation lead to a websites under close evaluation lead to a better understanding of what a good sites better understanding of what a good sites look like for use in future research?look like for use in future research?

How do people categorize and sort through How do people categorize and sort through information on websites to determine its information on websites to determine its validity and credibility?validity and credibility?

I predict that…I predict that… After looking at a supplied collection of what is After looking at a supplied collection of what is

believed to be good and bad sites, the believed to be good and bad sites, the participant will come up with his or her own list to participant will come up with his or her own list to determine a website’s credibility.determine a website’s credibility.

I am predicting this because when trying to I am predicting this because when trying to organize or sort through information everyone organize or sort through information everyone will come up with their own way of doing it. will come up with their own way of doing it. Each individual brings their own background Each individual brings their own background knowledge and experience. Thus individuals will knowledge and experience. Thus individuals will have their own reasons for grouping and have their own reasons for grouping and reasoning.reasoning.

Each participant will pick sites with more words Each participant will pick sites with more words or graphs as good sites as opposed to those or graphs as good sites as opposed to those sites containing more pictures or graphics.sites containing more pictures or graphics.

I am predicting this because most textbooks, I am predicting this because most textbooks, research books, and newspapers all contain research books, and newspapers all contain more print than pictures. Lots of pictures or more print than pictures. Lots of pictures or graphics are often found in children’s literature graphics are often found in children’s literature and thus can be skipped over by adults and and thus can be skipped over by adults and could be considered childish.could be considered childish.

After being presented with an article on how to After being presented with an article on how to evaluate good from bad websites, the evaluate good from bad websites, the participants will change their original groupings.participants will change their original groupings.

I am predicting this because often in school I am predicting this because often in school students will change their answers or ideas to students will change their answers or ideas to reflect those thought to be correct or more reflect those thought to be correct or more commonly accepted by the teacher and peers.commonly accepted by the teacher and peers.

Since I am not currently working with elementary Since I am not currently working with elementary students, I will take an elementary science topic students, I will take an elementary science topic and conduct my inquiry using adults. and conduct my inquiry using adults.

I will be selecting four participants for this study to I will be selecting four participants for this study to look at examples of good and bad websites look at examples of good and bad websites regarding an elementary topic, “why does it rain?”.regarding an elementary topic, “why does it rain?”.

Data will be collected through my observations and Data will be collected through my observations and discussions with participants during the project. I discussions with participants during the project. I will also have participants complete a survey will also have participants complete a survey during the project.during the project.

Description of Inquiry PlanDescription of Inquiry Plan

I hope to be able to answer some I hope to be able to answer some of these questions…of these questions…

What characteristics do participants feel are What characteristics do participants feel are necessary in order to determine it is a good necessary in order to determine it is a good website? A bad website?website? A bad website?

Will the participants struggle to determine which Will the participants struggle to determine which sites are good or bad?sites are good or bad?

Will the participants engage in internet searches Will the participants engage in internet searches to help validate the information on the sites?to help validate the information on the sites?

Will the participants change their original Will the participants change their original thoughts based on the mini lesson on quality thoughts based on the mini lesson on quality sites or will they remain the same?sites or will they remain the same?

Plan Details:Plan Details:My inquiry plan will start with a pre –survey to get some My inquiry plan will start with a pre –survey to get some

background information about the participants prior background information about the participants prior thoughts and ideas.thoughts and ideas.

I will then observe participants and discuss their ideas as I will then observe participants and discuss their ideas as they look over chosen websites and document which they look over chosen websites and document which sites they feel are good or bad.sites they feel are good or bad.

I will then present participants with the John Hopkins article I will then present participants with the John Hopkins article on evaluating internet information and the criteria they on evaluating internet information and the criteria they suggest using when evaluating the internet .suggest using when evaluating the internet .

I will then conduct a post-survey in which participants will I will then conduct a post-survey in which participants will revisit the websites and their thinking.revisit the websites and their thinking.

According to the Sheridan Libraries at John According to the Sheridan Libraries at John Hopkins University, the following criteria Hopkins University, the following criteria can be used when evaluating the can be used when evaluating the internet.internet.

1.1. AuthorshipAuthorship2.2. Publishing BodyPublishing Body3.3. Point of View or BiasPoint of View or Bias4.4. Referral to Other SourcesReferral to Other Sources5.5. VerifiabilityVerifiability6.6. CurrencyCurrency

Interesting Patterns in My DataInteresting Patterns in My Data

One of the things I found interesting was how One of the things I found interesting was how different everyone placed sites into a good different everyone placed sites into a good and bad category.  Only 2 of the sites were and bad category.  Only 2 of the sites were categorized as good by all four participants. categorized as good by all four participants.  The remaining 8 varied from good to bad  The remaining 8 varied from good to bad and even questionable in some cases.  and even questionable in some cases.  

Pre-Survey Results…Pre-Survey Results…Participants stated that good websites are ones Participants stated that good websites are ones

that include the following: that include the following: Active linksActive linksEasy to navigateEasy to navigateLooks appealingLooks appealing

Participants stated that bad websites are ones Participants stated that bad websites are ones that include the following:that include the following:

ConfussingConfussingMessy or poor quality graphicsMessy or poor quality graphicsUnactive linksUnactive linksUnorganizedUnorganized

Surprisingly all the participants stated they Surprisingly all the participants stated they rarely used the web for science related rarely used the web for science related searches.searches.

When asked what science related searches When asked what science related searches were conducted…were conducted…one participant stated it was usually for a classone participant stated it was usually for a classtwo conducted medical related searchestwo conducted medical related searchesthree searched for weather related topicsthree searched for weather related topicsone stated they searched science topics for one stated they searched science topics for

fun.fun.

Observations…Observations…While observing the participants I saw each While observing the participants I saw each

participant move quickly through the websites participant move quickly through the websites provided. provided.

One participant moved very quickly through the websites One participant moved very quickly through the websites as though they could be considered “good” as long as it as though they could be considered “good” as long as it contained science content.contained science content.

Another participant assumed websites other than (.com) Another participant assumed websites other than (.com) to be considered good.to be considered good.

Sites made for a younger age audience were ruled out Sites made for a younger age audience were ruled out as bad websites more often than considered good.as bad websites more often than considered good.

Website with ads were considered good.Website with ads were considered good. Not one participant conducted a search to check the Not one participant conducted a search to check the

validity of a source or author.validity of a source or author.

Post –Survey ResultsPost –Survey Results

I asked the participants at the end of the survey if I asked the participants at the end of the survey if they would change any of the websites from they would change any of the websites from good to bad or form bad to good after I good to bad or form bad to good after I presented them with the John Hopkins article of presented them with the John Hopkins article of qualities found in "good" websites.qualities found in "good" websites.

Every participant said they would have changed Every participant said they would have changed their responses from their personal good their responses from their personal good website criteria after seeing the article’s criteria.website criteria after seeing the article’s criteria.

Participant 1 said they had not thought about looking at Participant 1 said they had not thought about looking at the dates that any of the websites had been published or the dates that any of the websites had been published or updated (updated (currencycurrency).).

This is an important idea when searching for and looking This is an important idea when searching for and looking at WebPages you will be using as references. As the at WebPages you will be using as references. As the article, “Searching the Web: New Domains for Inquiry” article, “Searching the Web: New Domains for Inquiry” references:references:

The Web search engines are very important and useful The Web search engines are very important and useful resources, and they are playing a major role in the resources, and they are playing a major role in the information age. However, they currently lack information age. However, they currently lack comprehensiveness and timeliness. The current state of comprehensiveness and timeliness. The current state of search engines can be compared to a phone book that is search engines can be compared to a phone book that is updated irregularly, and has most of the pages ripped out updated irregularly, and has most of the pages ripped out (Lawrence & Giles, 1999).(Lawrence & Giles, 1999).

Participants 1 and 4 stated that checking the Participants 1 and 4 stated that checking the author would have changed their good and bad author would have changed their good and bad websites (Awebsites (Authorshiputhorship).).

Participants 2 and 4 mentioned that looking for Participants 2 and 4 mentioned that looking for accuracy in the details of the WebPages would accuracy in the details of the WebPages would have been a good determination of a good have been a good determination of a good website (website (Accuracy).Accuracy).

All participants stated that after looking at the All participants stated that after looking at the John Hopkins article they would have added John Hopkins article they would have added more criteria to their search for good websites.more criteria to their search for good websites.

Emergent IdeasEmergent Ideas

The sites that I found to be categorized as The sites that I found to be categorized as good or bad were not identified the same by good or bad were not identified the same by any of the four participants.any of the four participants.

Although there are guides of criteria available Although there are guides of criteria available for what makes a good website, the criteria for what makes a good website, the criteria may not be as well known. Each individual may not be as well known. Each individual will take the criteria and use the parts that will take the criteria and use the parts that are hold significance to them. are hold significance to them.

I question whether my asking participants to I question whether my asking participants to place sites into a good or bad category place sites into a good or bad category strayed their decision making? Did they strayed their decision making? Did they feel as though their lists should include feel as though their lists should include close to an equal number of both good and close to an equal number of both good and bad sites?  Did the sites I used force them bad sites?  Did the sites I used force them to group similar ones into the same to group similar ones into the same category? Perhaps if participants had to category? Perhaps if participants had to look at sites first and describe what they look at sites first and describe what they see without grouping them into categories, see without grouping them into categories, I could get a better feel for if they felt it was I could get a better feel for if they felt it was valid or not.valid or not.

Could it be that everyone brings their own ideas and Could it be that everyone brings their own ideas and misconceptions to evaluating websites like our misconceptions to evaluating websites like our students bring to our lessons?students bring to our lessons?

All of the participants changed how they would have All of the participants changed how they would have classified the websites after being presented with classified the websites after being presented with new information. But the question still remains if new information. But the question still remains if they will continue to look at the web as they have they will continue to look at the web as they have in the past, or if they will look at it through new in the past, or if they will look at it through new questioning eyes.questioning eyes.

After watching all the participants not question the After watching all the participants not question the websites provided very critically I have to wonder websites provided very critically I have to wonder if we are too quick to assume information is valid if we are too quick to assume information is valid when shown in a professional resemblance. I now when shown in a professional resemblance. I now see how important it is to use a questioning see how important it is to use a questioning approach to information on WebPages.approach to information on WebPages.

In conducting this inquiry project I have found that it is In conducting this inquiry project I have found that it is important that we try to be more conscious of the credibility important that we try to be more conscious of the credibility of websites we use to research information. Ultimately of websites we use to research information. Ultimately each person is going to make the final decision on how they each person is going to make the final decision on how they classify websites and where they find good information classify websites and where they find good information based on our own experiences and knowledge .based on our own experiences and knowledge .

ReferencesReferencesBertram, Bruce. "Credibility of the Web: Why We Need Dialectical

Reading." Journal of Philosophy of Education 34.Feb (2001): 97-109. 10 Sep. 2007 <http://www.isrl.uiuc.edu/%7Echip/pubs/credibility.shtml>.

Bertram, Bruce. "Digital Content: The Babel of Cyberspace." Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (1999). 10 Sep. 2007 <http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/JAAL/April_Column.html>.

Bertram, Bruce. "Searching the Web: New Domains for Inquiry." Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (1999). 10 Sep. 2007 <http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/JAAL/April_Column.html>.

John Hopkins University: The Sheridan Libraries. Ed. Elizabeth Kirk. 1996. Sheridan Libraries. 21 Sep. 2007 <http://www.library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/general/evaluating/>.

Lawrence, S., & Giles, C.L. (1999). How big is the Web? How much of the Web do the search engines index? How up to date are the search engines? http://www.neci.nec.com/~lawrence/websize.html