Evaluating the Web Maine South High School Library Resource Center R. Retrum, Lead Librarian N. Mellendorf, Librarian

Is the Web a Good Research Tool? Student use of the Web University of Southern Colorado study showed: Students felt quite confident about their ability to locate web information sources. Content analysis of sites visited by students showed selected sites were appropriate only 27% of the time. Evaluation is the key.

Student use of the Web

University of Southern Colorado study showed:

Students felt quite confident about their ability to locate web information sources.

Content analysis of sites visited by students showed selected sites were appropriate only 27% of the time.

Evaluation is the key.

Authority Often difficult to determine authorship of Web resources If the author’s name listed, his/her qualifications and contact information frequently absent Publisher responsibility and purpose often not indicated NIH National Institutes of Health (.gov) Stanford Cancer Center (.edu) Philip Morris USA (.com)

Often difficult to determine authorship of Web resources

If the author’s name listed, his/her qualifications and contact information frequently absent

Publisher responsibility and purpose often not indicated

NIH National Institutes of Health (.gov)

Stanford Cancer Center (.edu)

Philip Morris USA (.com)

Accuracy Anyone can publish on the Web Many Web resources are not verified by editors and/or fact checkers World Bank Whirled Bank Google Technology

Anyone can publish on the Web

Many Web resources are not verified by editors and/or fact checkers

World Bank

Whirled Bank

Google Technology

Objectivity Web often functions as a virtual soapbox Goals/aims of persons or groups presenting material often not clearly stated PETA (.org) National Right to Life (.org)

Web often functions as a virtual soapbox

Goals/aims of persons or groups presenting material often not clearly stated

PETA (.org)

National Right to Life (.org)

Currency Are there dates on the page to indicate: When the page was written? When the page was first placed on the Web? When the page was last revised? Are there any indications that the material is kept current?

Are there dates on the page to indicate:

When the page was written?

When the page was first placed on the Web?

When the page was last revised?

Are there any indications that the material is kept current?

Relevancy and Coverage Is the information useful to your research? There is a lot of useless information on the Web. Web coverage may differ from print or other media coverage. It may be much less thorough or it may be comparable. Bunny Survival Tests Occupational Outlook Handbook

Is the information useful to your research? There is a lot of useless information on the Web.

Web coverage may differ from print or other media coverage. It may be much less thorough or it may be comparable.

Bunny Survival Tests

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Searching the Web What percentage of the web do most search engines index? Statistics vary but some experts say that Google, for example indexes approx. 20 % of the web. Are search engine results always organized by relevance? How often a keyword occurs Link “popularity” Paid placement listings Why are some parts of the web “invisible”? Dynamic vs. Static web pages Database pages or Password protected pages

What percentage of the web do most search engines index?

Statistics vary but some experts say that Google, for example indexes approx. 20 % of the web.

Are search engine results always organized by relevance?

How often a keyword occurs

Link “popularity”

Paid placement listings

Why are some parts of the web “invisible”?

Dynamic vs. Static web pages

Database pages or Password protected pages

Ways to Search the Invisible Web Add “and databases” to your search terms Add site:edu or site:gov to your search terms Use Invisible or “Deep” Web Directories: Complete Planet Google Scholar Infomine Librarians’ Index to the Internet Science.gov USA.gov

Add “and databases” to your search terms

Add site:edu or site:gov to your search terms

Use Invisible or “Deep” Web Directories:

Complete Planet

Google Scholar

Infomine

Librarians’ Index to the Internet

Science.gov

USA.gov

When to skip the Web altogether… You need full-text articles from magazines and newspapers: use a subscription library database. You need scholarly articles from peer-reviewed and academic journals: use a subscription library database or book. You need an in-depth, original, narrative treatment of a topic: use a book.

You need full-text articles from magazines and newspapers: use a subscription library database.

You need scholarly articles from peer-reviewed and academic journals: use a subscription library database or book.

You need an in-depth, original, narrative treatment of a topic: use a book.

Final thoughts… When you use the Web for information, consider carefully all of the factors that contribute to a high quality information source: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and relevancy . You should also consider that the Web is only one of a variety of information options. Remember that books, magazines, newspapers, databases, and other sources are available as well. Evaluating information is a skill you will be using throughout your lifetime.

When you use the Web for information, consider carefully all of the factors that contribute to a high quality information source: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and relevancy . You should also consider that the Web is only one of a variety of information options. Remember that books, magazines, newspapers, databases, and other sources are available as well. Evaluating information is a skill you will be using throughout your lifetime.