1. Evaluation of web sites

2. 2 Quality of Web resources varies a lot! Criteria needed to evaluate Web resources We need to evaluate: Accuracy Authority Objectivity Currency Coverage Evaluation

3. 3 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!

4. 4 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?

5. 5 Accuracy Almost anyone can publish on the Web are 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

6. 6 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?

7. 7 Authority Often difficult to determine authorship of Web resources If author’s name listed, his/her qualifications frequently absent Publisher responsibility often not indicated

8. 8 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

9. 9 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?

10. 10 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

11. 11 Coverage What topics are included in the work? To what depth are topics explored?

12. 12 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

13. 13 Additional Challenges Software Requirements May Limit Access Instability of Web Pages Susceptibility of Web Pages to Alteration

14. 14 Use of Hypertext Links Quality of Web pages linked to original Web page may vary Coping Strategy: Evaluate each Web page independently

15. 15 Use of Frames Each frame displays a separate Web page Coping Strategy: Evaluate each frame independently

16. 16 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

17. 17 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

18. 18 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

19. 19 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

20. 20 Web Pages Susceptible to Alteration Accidental alteration Deliberate alteration Attempt to verify information using other sources

21. 21 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

22. 22 Web Page Evaluation Procedure Step 1: Identify the Type of Web Page Business/Marketing Informational News Personal Entertainment

23. 23 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

24. 24 Conclusion Web evaluation techniques are only beginning to be developed Establishing evaluation procedures will be an ongoing evolutionary process

25. 25 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) Tobacco Control Archives WWW.CIOLEK.COM Asia Pacific Research Online The Onion Dihydrogen Monoxide United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Institute for Historical Review

26. 26 Links to Sites/Pages Which Can Be Used to Discuss Objectivity The National Right to Life Committee 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) NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) Consumer Reports Online BeefNutrition.org

27. 27 Links to Sites/Pages Which Can Be Used to Discuss Currency and Coverage USA TodayUSA Today (http://www.usatoday.com) Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 Edition (http://humanities.uchicago.edu/forms_unrest/w ebster.form.html CNN (htp://www.cnn.com) Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 Edition CNN

28. 28 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) No Smoke Home Page Melatonin Central The "Alternative" White House The Official White House Chips Ahoy Joe Boxer CourtTV Time Warner's Pathfinder Sites Which May Require Additional Software to View Selected Pages PBS Kids (http://www.pbs.org/kids) PBS Kids

29. 29 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) Physicians for Social Responsibility The National Anti-Vivisection Society Business/Marketing Web Pages Lands' End Direct Merchants (http://www.landsend.com/) General Motors (http://gm.com) Lands' End Direct Merchants General Motors

30. 30 Informational Web Pages Environmental 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) Environmental Protection Agency OncoLink Buddhist Studies WWW Virtual Library Smithsonian Institution News Web Pages Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com) Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com) Washington Post Wall Street Journal

31. 31 Personal Web Pages Larry Wall’s Home Page Larry Wall’s Home Page (http://www.wall.org/~larry/) Timothy Burke's Home Page (http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSc i/tburke1) Timothy Burke's Home Page