Research Methods & Evaluation for the Internet Generation Jane Long MLIS, University of Oklahoma MA, English, Wright State University Reference Services Librarian Al Harris Library

The Internet is… a major presence in our daily lives constantly growing helping make an enormous amount of information available

Web Searching is easy because….. Speed Choice Availability 24/7 We always get an answer

Web searching is difficult because … Organization Quality control Reliability

Early Days of the Internet Take a look at Letterman in 1995: Bill Gates and The Quiz Machine

Web vs. Library Databases Web –Good for current events –Statistical Information –Pop Culture –Opinion –Information about Organizations & Groups Library Databases –Research Based Books & Articles –Full-text Resources –Authoritative & Peer- reviewed Materials –Information about People & Cultures –Easier to Search AND, OR, NOT Specific Subjects

Government Web Tools USA.Gov, (formerly FirstGov) directory of federal gov’t websites SoonerSearch, a portal to Oklahoma gov’t websites Unclesam, a version of Google that searches only gov’t websites Infomine, access to university level research on gov’t info

Evaluation Is Essential Look at how things have changed regarding the information we have available to use. Information R/evolution

Note the Reasons Evaluation Is Essential Authority –Who created it? Who is responsible? –What credentials do they hold? What makes them qualified to discuss the topic? Accuracy –Can the information be verified? –Check the facts! Objectivity –How is the information being presented? –Is it objective or biased? What’s the point of view? Currency (important based on subject) –When was it published? –When was it last updated?

Wikipedia Wiki: A Web application that allows users to add content to a collaborative hypertext Web resource (coauthoring), as in an Internet forum, and permits others to edit that content (open editing).

Wikipedia Jimmy Wales January 15, 2001 No Original Research NPOV (Neutral point of view) No owners, multiple anonymous authors Anyone with Internet access can create or edit an entry…Anyone

Wikipedia Contributors: male, English speaking, denizens of the Internet. Problem is not that it disregards the facts, but that it elevates them above all else. Most of the content is discussion/history of edits & not the entries themselves. Most active 1% of editors make 55% of changes. Number of new articles peaked in 2007 at around 60,000. As of 2009, better attempts are being made regarding the control of inaccuracies. Rosenzweig, Roy. “Can History Be Open Source? Wikipedia and the Future of the Past.” Journal of American History 93.1 (2006): Print. Landgraf, Greg. “Wikipedia Growth Slows.” American Libraries Nov. 2009: 27. Print.

Participation maps popular, not academic concerns It is a working community…but is it a good historical resource? Lack of critical analysis Problematic as a sole source of information Like all encyclopedias…okay to start, terrible place to stop. Benefits its active participants, not its readers. Wikipedia’s design shows users a journal that is free and available for use by anyone as well as being a model for online collaboration. Manjoo, Farhad. “Is Wikipedia a Victim of Its Own Success?” Time 28 Sept. 2009: n. p. Web. 2 Oct

What Does This Mean to You? The Machine is Us/ing Us

Step 1: Authority Web Pages – Credentials/Qualifications/Reputation – Who is responsible for content? Webmaster? Web team? Organization? Institution? Company?

Step 1: Authority: Questions 1. Do you recognize the author's name? Is there an author's name? 2.If you don't recognize the name, or there is no name, what type of information is given about the contact information? - Position? - Organizational affiliation? - address? - Biographical information?

Domain Names Does evaluation help us make choices regarding a site? Whois.net – –This website gives us information about the owner of sites..gov.org.mil.com.edu.net.int Indicates a reliable domain name

Step 2: Accuracy Web Pages –Can the information be verified? Links to credible sites Copyright Works Cited Fact check with a printed source

Step 2: AccuracyAccuracy 1.Does the website cite sources used to present its information? What type of sources are they? Scholarly? Popular? 2.Is it possible to verify the legitimacy of these sources? 3.If the site is research-based, does the website clearly identify the method of research and the data gathered?

Step 3: Objectivity Biased or Objective? Sponsoring Organization Agendas Political Propaganda Web hosting Do you trust the author or organization providing the information?

Step 3: Objectivity Do you trust the author or organization providing the information? Determine the aim of the author or organization publishing the site. What is the purpose of the web site? 1. Is it advertisement for a product or service? 2. Is it directed toward political purposes? 3. Is it trying to sway public opinion on a social issue?

Step 4: CurrencyCurrency Web Pages –When was it created and last updated? Well maintained web sites have an indication when it was last updated or modified Accessibility –Dead links Stability –Changes URLs frequently

Step 4: Currency 1. Is a date clearly displayed? 2. Can you determine what the date refers to? When the page was first written? When the page was first posted on the Internet? When the page was last revised or updated? The copyright date? 3. Are the resources used by the author current? 4. Does the page content demand routine or continual updating or revision? 5. Do the links on the page point to the correct Internet site addresses?

Known for providing information on web traffic

Next class meeting – Internet Evaluation

 Contact me: Jane Long Questions?

Thank you!