Web Page
Evaluation
  a tutorial
   Steve Mittendorf
When Comparing Websites....
there are 4 main criteria

• Authority
• Accuracy
• Currency
• Objectivity
Wolfgram Memorial Library Reference Department. (2004). How to evaluate information on the Web. Widener University.
    Retrieved January 6, 2011 from
     http://www.widener.edu/about/campus_resources/wolfgram_library/evaluate/default.aspx
I have an interest in nutrition......
so I'm going to compare web site information
  on the benefits of whole grains using two web
  sites
    "WG GUIDE"

    http://www.cspinet.or
    g/nah/wwheat.html
Authority
                                                 Who's responsible?
                                            What are their qualifications?


Using WHOIS, I search the
  domain of the two websites                                                 Evaluation
   http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp          WG Guide: unusual web
                                                             address extension
                                                             neither educational,
                                                             commercial or
                                                             organizational. No
                                                             contact information.


                                                            WG Council: All contact
                                                             information available
                                                             (address, email and
                                                             phone numbers).
Accuracy
                  Are there other sources and links presented within the web page?


Using Google search, I use
  link: before the URL in                                       Evaluation
  the search box to find                           WG Guide: 2 sites are
  links to the websites                             linked to this web page.
ex. link:www.wholegraincouncil.org




                                                   WG Council: 163 sites are
                                                    linked to this site. More
                                                    links to other credible
                                                    sources.
Currency
Dates are written and revision dates are on the web page; no dead links.




                                                   Evaluation
                                     WG Guide: Dated 1997 but
                                      no recent revisions and
                                      no copyright information.
                                      One active link



                                     WG Council: Copyrighted
                                      and revised in 2011
Objectivity
Minimum bias and information is fair and balanced



                                       Evaluation
                         WG Guide: Informative but
                          limited information.
                          Somewhat objective but
                          again information is
                          dated.
                         WG Council: Very
                          informative. Information
                          has some bias but it is
                          minimal given the
                          amount of information
                          and resources the page
                          is linked to.
Conclusions
The "WG Council" website is clearly more
  informative and reliable because:

•   There is an authority behind the website
•   The website's links provide more accuracy
•   There is currency because the website has
    been revised recently and copyrighted.
•   The web site offers objectivity because it
    had minimal bias

Web Page Evaluation Tutorial

  • 1.
    Web Page Evaluation a tutorial Steve Mittendorf
  • 2.
    When Comparing Websites.... thereare 4 main criteria • Authority • Accuracy • Currency • Objectivity Wolfgram Memorial Library Reference Department. (2004). How to evaluate information on the Web. Widener University. Retrieved January 6, 2011 from http://www.widener.edu/about/campus_resources/wolfgram_library/evaluate/default.aspx
  • 3.
    I have aninterest in nutrition...... so I'm going to compare web site information on the benefits of whole grains using two web sites "WG GUIDE" http://www.cspinet.or g/nah/wwheat.html
  • 4.
    Authority Who's responsible? What are their qualifications? Using WHOIS, I search the domain of the two websites Evaluation http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp WG Guide: unusual web address extension neither educational, commercial or organizational. No contact information. WG Council: All contact information available (address, email and phone numbers).
  • 5.
    Accuracy Are there other sources and links presented within the web page? Using Google search, I use link: before the URL in Evaluation the search box to find WG Guide: 2 sites are links to the websites linked to this web page. ex. link:www.wholegraincouncil.org WG Council: 163 sites are linked to this site. More links to other credible sources.
  • 6.
    Currency Dates are writtenand revision dates are on the web page; no dead links. Evaluation WG Guide: Dated 1997 but no recent revisions and no copyright information. One active link WG Council: Copyrighted and revised in 2011
  • 7.
    Objectivity Minimum bias andinformation is fair and balanced Evaluation WG Guide: Informative but limited information. Somewhat objective but again information is dated. WG Council: Very informative. Information has some bias but it is minimal given the amount of information and resources the page is linked to.
  • 8.
    Conclusions The "WG Council"website is clearly more informative and reliable because: • There is an authority behind the website • The website's links provide more accuracy • There is currency because the website has been revised recently and copyrighted. • The web site offers objectivity because it had minimal bias