2. WebsiteEvaluation

(1)

Web Resource Evaluation

Techniques

Wolfgram Memorial Library Widener University

Chester, PA 19013

(2)

Additional Web

Evaluation Materials

Materials to accompany this presentation

are available on the Wolfgram Library

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Topics Covered

• _{The Importance of Web Evaluation}_{The Importance of Web Evaluation}

• _{Review of Five Traditional Evaluation}_{Review of Five Traditional Evaluation}

Criteria

• _{Adaptation of the Traditional Evaluation}_{Adaptation of the Traditional Evaluation}

Criteria to Web Resources

• _{Additional Challenges Posed by Web}_{Additional Challenges Posed by Web}

Resources and How to Cope with Them

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Reliance Upon Web-based Information

Increasing

• _{Quality of Web resources varies}

tremendously

• _{Criteria needed to evaluate Web resources}

– Some traditional evaluation criteria still useful

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Five Traditional Evaluation Criteria

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How

reliable

and free from error is

the information?

Are there

editors

and fact checkers?

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Accuracy of Web Resources

• Almost anyone can publish on the Web

• _{Many Web resources}_{not verified}_{by editors}

and/or fact checkers

• _{Web standards to ensure accuracy not fully}

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What are the author’s

qualifications

for writing

on the subject?

How

reputable

is the publisher?

Qualification

s

(9)

Authority of Web Resources

• _{Often difficult to determine authorship of}

Web resources

• _{If author’s name listed, his/her}

qualifications frequently absent

• _{Publisher responsibility often}

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Criterion #3:

Objectivity

• _{Is the information presented with a}

minimum of bias?

• _{To what extent is the information}

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Web often functions as a

“virtual soapbox”

Goals/aims of persons or groups presenting

material often

not clearly stated _{WEB SOAP}_{WEB SOAP}

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Criterion #4:

Currency

Is the content of the work

up-to-date?

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Currency of Web Resources

• _{Dates not always included on}

Web pages

• _{If included, a date may have}

various meanings: – Date first created

– Date placed on Web

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Criterion #5:

Coverage

• _{What topics}

_{are included in the}

work?

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Coverage of Web Resources

• _{Web coverage may differ from print or other} media coverage

• _{Often hard to determine extent of Web coverage}

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Use These Criteria to Evaluate Actual

Web Pages

1. Accuracy 2. Authority 3. Objectivity

4. Currency 5. Coverage

World Wide

Web

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But Also Remember…

The Web Presents

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Use of Hypertext Links

Quality of Web pages linked to original Web page may vary

HIGH QUALITY HIGH QUALITY WEB PAGE WEB PAGE POOR QUALITY POOR QUALITY WEB PAGE WEB PAGE LINKED LINKED TO TO

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Evaluate each Web page independently

Web Page

Web Page Web PageWeb Page

Linked To Linked To

A

A _B_B

Coping Strategy:

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Challenge:

Use of Frames

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Coping Strategy:

Use of Frames

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Search Engines Can Retrieve

Web Pages Out of Context

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Search Engines Can Retrieve Web

Pages Out of Context

Always try to return to the “home page” to

determine source of information

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Challenge:

Marketing-Oriented

Web Pages

• _{In other media, there usually are clear}

visual and/or audio distinctions between advertising and information

And Now a Word From Our Sponsors

AD

ARTICLE

The Sound

Off

The Sound

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Challenge:

Marketing-Oriented

Web Pages

On the Web, distinctions between

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Coping Strategy:

Marketing-Oriented Web Pages

Try to determine if advertising and

informational content are supplied by the

same person or organization

I

Informationnformation

Person or Organization Person or Organization

I

Information_nformation

Advertising

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Challenge:

Blending of Entertainment,

Information, and Advertising

The Web has brought

“infomercial”

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Blending of Entertainment,

Information, and Advertising

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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

WEB

Information

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Software Requirements May

Limit Access to Information

Be aware that software limitations may:

– Alter how much information is obtainable

– _{Alter the}

ap

_pear

_an

_ce_{of information obtained}

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User may not

be able to refer

back to a Web page

Web Pages May

Move or Disappear Without Notice

Challenge:

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

_{Try to determine the stability}

of your source



Document source to the fullest

extent possible

www.widen

er.edu

Coping Strategy:

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• _{Accidental alteration}

• _{Deliberate alteration}

Challenge:

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Attempt to verify information using other sources

New York Times

Coping Strategy:

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Applying This Knowledge When

Using the Web as a Research

Tool

ULTIMATE CHALLENGE

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Step 1: Identify type of page

Step 2: Use appropriate checklist

Step 3: Based on checklist criteria, determine

relative quality of page

CHECKLIST CHECKLIST WEB WEB PAGE PAGE

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• _Advocacy • _{Business/Marketing} • _{Informational} • _News • _Personal • _{Entertainment}

?

Web Page Evaluation

Procedure

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Answer Questions

With

“Yes”

or

“No”

Web Page Evaluation

Procedure

CHECKLIST 1.yes 2.no 3.yes 4.yes 5.no

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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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• _{Web evaluation techniques are in}

development

• _{Technology is outpacing ability to create}

standards and guidelines

• _{Establishing evaluation procedures will}

be an ongoing evolutionary process