1. How to Evaluate Web Content Stephen Perry, Regional Information Resources Officer, U.S. Embassy, ACCRA PERRYSX2@STATE.GOV +233 030 273 1172 Thanks to many authors for their invaluable ideas

2. When searching the Internet, the statement below is the best guide: USE YOUR BRAIN, DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY TRUST RESULTS

3. “Do you want to find the Best Resources on the Internet?” “Casual users and serious researchers place their trust in the accuracy and completeness of the data on the network. They’re relying upon information of unknown pedigree and dubious quality, since precious little on the Internet has been refereed or reviewed.” “Casual users and serious researchers place their trust in the accuracy and completeness of the data on the network. They’re relying upon information of unknown pedigree and dubious quality, since precious little on the Internet has been refereed or reviewed.” Clifford Stoll, Silicon Snake Oil: Second Thoughts on the Information Highway. New York, Doubleday, pg. 125 Clifford Stoll, Silicon Snake Oil: Second Thoughts on the Information Highway. New York, Doubleday, pg. 125

4. Why evaluate? The Web is a no man’s land, where anyone with sufficient skills can publish any opinion they wish. The Web is a no man’s land, where anyone with sufficient skills can publish any opinion they wish. Therefore, experience tells us that you will need additional and critical skills to locate information of real quality and value. Therefore, experience tells us that you will need additional and critical skills to locate information of real quality and value.

5. I.AUTHORITY Who or what organization is responsible for the content? Who or what organization is responsible for the content? Is all contact information readily available? Is all contact information readily available? How easy is it to reach someone if you have questions about the content or authenticity of the Web Page? How easy is it to reach someone if you have questions about the content or authenticity of the Web Page? Does the Web Page list information about the organization or individuals responsible for the content and design of the page? Does the Web Page list information about the organization or individuals responsible for the content and design of the page?

6. II. ACCURACY Are all the links and information verified? Are all the links and information verified? Is the information cited correctly? Is the information cited correctly? Who publishes the content and who is responsible for updating it? Who publishes the content and who is responsible for updating it? JUDGE: DOES THIS SITE PRESENT ACCURATE AND AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATION? JUDGE: DOES THIS SITE PRESENT ACCURATE AND AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATION?

7. Here is a checklist written by the UCLA Libraries with tips to help you evaluate the authenticity of websites http://www.library.ucla.edu/libra ries/college/11605_12337.cfm http://www.library.ucla.edu/libra ries/college/11605_12337.cfm http://www.library.ucla.edu/libra ries/college/11605_12337.cfm http://www.library.ucla.edu/libra ries/college/11605_12337.cfm

8. UCLA CHECKLIST: THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT WEBSITES

9. III. APPROACH What is the purpose of the content and why was it produced? What is the purpose of the content and why was it produced? Does the content have a goal? [Advertising vs. Educational vs. Propaganda?] Does the content have a goal? [Advertising vs. Educational vs. Propaganda?] How objective is the information? Is it one person’s or one organization’s point of view or opinion only? How objective is the information? Is it one person’s or one organization’s point of view or opinion only?

10. IV. AGE ONLINE When was the Web Page last updated? Does the Web Page state explicitly “Last Updated …” When was the Web Page last updated? Does the Web Page state explicitly “Last Updated …” How many dead links [Web Rot] are on the page? How many dead links [Web Rot] are on the page? Does the page indicate a contact or an email address for additional information? Does the page indicate a contact or an email address for additional information? Judge: Is the information timely? Judge: Is the information timely?

11. V. AUDIENCE LEVEL Is the Web Page geared for a specific audience? (i.e. Children/Adults/Teens/Political or Religious Affiliation or Ideology, etc.?) Is the Web Page geared for a specific audience? (i.e. Children/Adults/Teens/Political or Religious Affiliation or Ideology, etc.?) Is the content generic or very specific? Is the content generic or very specific? JUDGE: WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THIS SITE? JUDGE: WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THIS SITE?

12. VI. ACCESSIBILITY How Accessible is the web site? How Accessible is the web site? Consider issues such as use of color, patterns, organization, whether the site offers the full text of documents listed or only a portion. Consider issues such as use of color, patterns, organization, whether the site offers the full text of documents listed or only a portion. Is the site or part of it under construction? For how long? Is the site or part of it under construction? For how long? Does the Web Page have a SITE INDEX for greater accessibility? Does the Web Page have a SITE INDEX for greater accessibility? JUDGE: HOW EASY IS THIS SITE TO USE? JUDGE: HOW EASY IS THIS SITE TO USE?

13. The Internet Public Library: www.ipl.org www.ipl.org

14. INFOMINE: http://infomine.ucr.edu

15. Virtual Library: http://www.vlib.org

16. Pinakes: http://www.hw.ac.uk/libwww/irn/pinakes /pinakes.html http://www.hw.ac.uk/libwww/irn/pinakes /pinakes.html http://www.hw.ac.uk/libwww/irn/pinakes /pinakes.html

17. For Legal and Business Information: http://www.llrx.com

18. Distance Education: Quality Online Courses for Continuing Education: http://ocw.mit.edu http://ocw.mit.edu

19. Reference/Fast Facts at a Glance: http:// www.archives.gov/research/alic/reference

20. For NGOs and Development Work around the World: www.eldis.org www.eldis.org

21. Poynter Site for Journalists: www.poynter.org

22. A QUIZ AND A REVIEW Compare two statistical sites related to WOMEN AND AIDS: Compare two statistical sites related to WOMEN AND AIDS: Go to GOOGLE AND TYPE IN “AIDS AND WOMEN AND STATISTICS” and compare the results and the types of web pages you retrieve. Go to GOOGLE AND TYPE IN “AIDS AND WOMEN AND STATISTICS” and compare the results and the types of web pages you retrieve. What did you discover through this exercise? What did you discover through this exercise?

23. MORE REVIEWING VIA AN ONLINE EXERCISE: Search Google for information on GHANA…or …a topic of your choice. Search Google for information on GHANA…or …a topic of your choice. Name the top 5 web sites --using and applying the criteria you just learned. Find the Ku Klux Klan Website and discuss the problems with it. Does the site present opinion or fact? How can you tell? Find the Ku Klux Klan Website and discuss the problems with it. Does the site present opinion or fact? How can you tell?

24. AN ADDITIONAL QUIZ READ THE ONLINE ARTICLE: “In GOOGLE WE TRUST: INFORMATION INTEGRITY IN THE DIGITAL AGE” BY LEE SHAKER. FIRST MONDAY, vol. 11, no. 4 (APRIL 2006): READ THE ONLINE ARTICLE: “In GOOGLE WE TRUST: INFORMATION INTEGRITY IN THE DIGITAL AGE” BY LEE SHAKER. FIRST MONDAY, vol. 11, no. 4 (APRIL 2006): This article available at: http://www.firstmonday.org/htbin/cgi wrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/vie w/1320/1240 This article available at: http://www.firstmonday.org/htbin/cgi wrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/vie w/1320/1240 http://www.firstmonday.org/htbin/cgi wrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/vie w/1320/1240 http://www.firstmonday.org/htbin/cgi wrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/vie w/1320/1240 What lessons did you learn from this article? What lessons did you learn from this article?

25. QUIZ TIME Now go to http://www.ipl.org and type in “Ghana” in the search window provided and see if there is a difference in the quality of the sites offered by Internet Public Library (http://www.ipl.org) and Google. Now go to http://www.ipl.org and type in “Ghana” in the search window provided and see if there is a difference in the quality of the sites offered by Internet Public Library (http://www.ipl.org) and Google.http://www.ipl.org What did you learn from this exercise? What did you learn from this exercise?

26. More information on how to evaluate web pages can be found through the following web sites http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/colle ge/11605_12337.cfm http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/colle ge/11605_12337.cfm http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/colle ge/11605_12337.cfm http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/colle ge/11605_12337.cfm http://library.albany.edu/usered/eval/inde x.html http://library.albany.edu/usered/eval/inde x.html http://library.albany.edu/usered/eval/inde x.html http://library.albany.edu/usered/eval/inde x.html http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/ Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/ Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/ Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/ Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html http://www.virtualchase.com/quality/inde x.html http://www.virtualchase.com/quality/inde x.html http://www.virtualchase.com/quality/inde x.html http://www.virtualchase.com/quality/inde x.html

27. More Sites with Information on how to evaluate Web Sites: RUTGERS: http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/guides/evaluate. htm RUTGERS: http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/guides/evaluate. htm http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/guides/evaluate. htm http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/guides/evaluate. htm ITHACA: ITHACA: http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think5.ht ml http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think5.ht ml ALBANY: A series of Internet Tutorials available at: http://library.albany.edu/usered/ ALBANY: A series of Internet Tutorials available at: http://library.albany.edu/usered/http://library.albany.edu/usered/ A Checklist for Evaluating Information: http://library.usm.maine.edu/research/research guides/webevaluating.html A Checklist for Evaluating Information: http://library.usm.maine.edu/research/research guides/webevaluating.html http://library.usm.maine.edu/research/research guides/webevaluating.html http://library.usm.maine.edu/research/research guides/webevaluating.html

28. More Sources to help you actively evaluate information : ◙ Learn to Think Critically Project: http://www.lifehacker.com/software/feature/ seek-and-ye-shall-find-how-to-evaluate- sources-on-the-web-137843.php ◙ Learn to Think Critically Project: http://www.lifehacker.com/software/feature/ seek-and-ye-shall-find-how-to-evaluate- sources-on-the-web-137843.phptp://www.lifehacker.com/software/feature/ seek-and-ye-shall-find-how-to-evaluate- sources-on-the-web-137843.phptp://www.lifehacker.com/software/feature/ seek-and-ye-shall-find-how-to-evaluate- sources-on-the-web-137843.php ◙ From a University Web Site: http://ejw.i8.com/webeval.htm ◙ The Web Credibility Project at Stanford University: http://credibility.stanford.edu/ http://credibility.stanford.edu/

29. IF YOU MUST INSIST ON USING GOOGLE, then PLEASE USE GOOGLE INTELLIGENTLY: here are ideas: www.blueroom.com/google/index.htm www.blueroom.com/google/index.htm

30. AND NOW FOR A REVIEW Let’s look at the following slides for a final review Let’s look at the following slides for a final review

31. A GOOGLE SEARCH ON “MARTIN LUTHER KING”

32. The site in detail: www.martinlutherking.org www.martinlutherking.org

33. More detail: from site retrieved by GOOGLE: www.martinlutherking.org www.martinlutherking.org

34. More of this web site retrieved by GOOGLE

35. Note who actually hosts --or is responsible for this website? STORMFRONT

36. WHO IS STORMFRONT?

37. My point here is that Google will retrieve even racist and violent information that the average person – who believes anything Google retrieves - might accept as fact. I shudder to think that anyone would accept the information in www.martinlutherking.org as fact. www.martinlutherking.org

38. I stress this point because: Google does not evaluate any web site it brings you; it often just retrieves the most popular websites that people have looked at Google does not evaluate any web site it brings you; it often just retrieves the most popular websites that people have looked at Please be careful in automatically accepting anything that Google retrieves; there are many guides for how to search Google carefully and there are better designed search engines. Please be careful in automatically accepting anything that Google retrieves; there are many guides for how to search Google carefully and there are better designed search engines. One of these is the Internet Public Library: www.ipl.org One of these is the Internet Public Library: www.ipl.orgwww.ipl.org

39. Use our IRC ACCRA INTERNET GUIDE for better Search Engines

40. Use the Internet Public Library: www.ipl.org www.ipl.org

41. Here are resources by subject in IPL: www.ipl.org www.ipl.org

42. A search on Martin Luther King in the Internet Public Library: all resources evaluated by professional librarians as being the best and most authoritative

43. There are many other useful Search Engines for you to try out: Infomine: http://infomine.ucr.edu Infomine: http://infomine.ucr.eduhttp://infomine.ucr.edu WWW Virtual Library: www.vlib.org WWW Virtual Library: www.vlib.orgwww.vlib.org Best of the Web from the New York Public Library Staff: http://www.nypl.org/collections/nypl- recommendations/best-of-web Best of the Web from the New York Public Library Staff: http://www.nypl.org/collections/nypl- recommendations/best-of-web http://www.nypl.org/collections/nypl- recommendations/best-of-web http://www.nypl.org/collections/nypl- recommendations/best-of-web Library of Congress: Virtual Reference Shelf: http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/virtualref.html Library of Congress: Virtual Reference Shelf: http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/virtualref.html http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/virtualref.html Annotated List of Reference Websites from the Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/rr/main/alcove9/ Annotated List of Reference Websites from the Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/rr/main/alcove9/ http://www.loc.gov/rr/main/alcove9/ Voice of the Shuttle: http://vos.ucsb.edu Voice of the Shuttle: http://vos.ucsb.eduhttp://vos.ucsb.edu

44. The End Thank You for Your Attention! PERRYLS@STATE.GOV STEPHEN PERRY +233 030 274 1172 IRO ACCRA GHANA