The original presentation documents are available at the WWW site for the Wolfgram Memorial Library of Widener University.
The Web as a Research Tool:
Evaluation Techniques
Presented by Jan Alexander and
Marsha Tate, Reference Librarians
Wolfgram Memorial Library
Widener University
Chester, PA
Topics Covered
- Need for Evaluation of Web
Sources
- Review of the Five Traditional
Print Evaluation Criteria
- Adapting the Five Traditional
Print Evaluation Criteria to Web Sources
- Additional Challenges
Presented by Web Sources and How to Cope with Them
- Applying Evaluation Techniques
to Specific Types of Web Resources
- Conclusion
1. Need for Evaluation of Web
Sources
- Quality of sources varies
tremendously
- Techniques needed to evaluate
Web resources
- Some traditional print
techniques still appropriate
- New techniques also
needed
2. Review of the Five
Traditional Print Evaluation Criteria
- Criterion #1:
Accuracy
- How reliable and
free from error is the information?
- Are there editors and fact
checkers?
- Criterion #2: Authority
- What are the
author's qualifications for writing on this
subject?
- How reputable is the
publisher?
- Criterion #3:
Objectivity
- Is the information
presented with a minimum of bias?
- To what extent is the
information trying to sway the opinion of the
audience?
- Criterion #4: Currency
- Is the content of
the work up-to-date?
- Is the publication date
clearly labeled?
- Criterion #5: Coverage
- What topics are
included in the work?
- Are the topics included
explored in depth?
3. Adapting Five Traditional
Print Evaluation Criteria to Web Resources
- Criterion #1:
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 yet to be fully developed
- Criterion #2: Authority of Web
Resources
- Often difficult to
determine authorship of Web Sources
- If author's name is listed,
his/her qualifications frequently absent
- Publisher responsibility
often not indicated
- Criterion #3: Objectivity of
Web Resources
- Goals/aims of
persons or groups presenting material often not clearly
stated
- Web often functions as a
"virtual soapbox"
- Criterion #4: Currency of Web
Resources
- Dates not always
included on Web pages
- If included, a date may
have various meanings:
- Date
information first written
- Date information placed
on Web
- Date information last
revised
- Criterion #5: Coverage of Web
Resources
- Web coverage may
differ from print coverage
- Often hard to determine
extent of Web coverage
4. Additional Challenges Presented by Web Resources And How To
Cope With Them
- Marketing-Oriented
Web Pages
- Challenge
- In print
sources, usually clear distinction between advertising
and information
- On the Web, the
distinction between advertising and information can
easily become blurred
- Coping Strategy
- Determine if
advertising and informational content are being supplied
by the same person or organization
- If so, advertising
likely to bias informational content
- "Infommercial" Web
Pages
- Challenge
- Blending of
Entertainment, Information, and Advertising on Web
Pages
- Coping Strategy
- Caveat Emptor:
View these Web pages with the same critical eye you would
an infommercial
- Use of Hypertext Links
- 1.
Challenge
- Quality of Web
pages linked to original Web page may vary
- 2. Coping Strategy
- Evaluate each
Web page independently
- Software Requirements May
Limit Access to Web Information
- Challenge
- Full access may
require additional software
- Browsers may alter the
appearance of Web Pages
- Coping Strategy
- Be aware that
software may limit how much information you obtain and
how the information appears on your screen
- Web Pages Out of
Context
- Challenge
- Search Engines
can retrieve Web Pages out of context
- May or may not be a way
of determining source of information
- 2. Coping Strategy
- Always try to
return to the "home page" to determine source of
information
- Instability of Web
Pages
- Challenge
- Web pages may
move or disappear without notice
- Coping Strategy
- Try to
determine the stability of your source
- Document source to the
fullest extent possible
- Susceptibility of Web Pages to
Alteration
- Challenge
- Web pages are
susceptible to both accidental and deliberate
alteration
- Coping strategy
- Attempt to verify information
using other sources
5. Applying Evaluation
Techniques to Specific Types of Web Resources
Step 1: Identify the Type of Web
Page
- Entertainment
- Business/Marketing
- Reference/Informational
- News
- Advocacy
- Personal Page
Step 2: Use the Appropriate
Checklist
Step 3: Based on the Checklist
Criteria, Determine the Relative Quality of the Web
Page
* The more "yes" answers
to questions indicates a higher quality Web page
6. Conclusion:
Remember!
The Web is only one source of
information
- It can be very useful for
researching certain topics
- It can be almost useless for
other topics
- To research a topic
thoroughly, use a variety of sources both Web and
non-Web
Web evaluation techniques are just
beginning to be developed
Technology is outpacing ability to
create standards and guidelines
Establishing evaluation procedures
will be an ongoing evolutionary process
Copyright Widener University,
1996 ,2007
Comments: Marsha.A.Tate@widener.edu
or Janet.E.Alexander@widener.edu
