Evaluation of Evaluation of Internet ResourcesInternet Resources

Review of Library Materials

• Books

• Periodicals

• Reference collection

• Special collection

• Electronic sources– Internet access, one of our many resources

The Library Internet•Most libraries have access to the Internet

•Library is physical, permanent, free

•Professionals develop and maintain sources

•Materials are edited and quality-checked

• Anyone can create an Internet source

•The user must check Internet quality

•Therefore, the user must develop evaluation skills

vs.

• Using a search engine is similar to walking onto the street and asking, “Does anybody know anything about this topic?”

Source Proofread Editor Professional evaluation

Books

Periodicals

CDs/DVDs

Electronic Subscriptions

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Web page quality is less certain.

Internet ? ? NO

How to evaluate

Examine:

• Relevance

• Credibility

• Authority

• Currency

• Audience

• Bias

Relevance:

• Does the page answer your research question?

• IF NOT:

Reconsider your terms and search again.

Credibility:• Are there clues to factuality?

– Examine URL– Domain name extension (.com, .edu, .org, .ca, etc.)– Bibliography– References– Compare information with other sites– Electronic version of a reputable print source– See the “About us” section of the web site

Look for an “About Us” section.

Here it is called “About Refdesk.”

Click on the Mission Statement – Introduction/Tour

Here is a description of the author’s background.

What do you think of him as a resource?

The information appears to be factual, in statements of actuality or occurrence.

There are no statements of belief or feeling, no opinions.

The URL is a “.com” which indicates a promotional site or just an inexpensive one.

Click on drop down menu to access Reference material including dictionaries, encyclopedias, calculators, almanacs.

A screen shot of Encyclopedias

Authority:

• Who is responsible? (“about us” again)

• Where did the information come from?– Consider citations and sources again.

Currency:• Is the page current?

• When was it created and/or updated?

• The front page, the copyright date at the bottom, and “About Refdesk” provide information that the site is updated daily, weekly, and yearly.

Audience:

• For whom was this created? (e.g., consumers, professionals)

• Can you understand it?

• Is it too easy?

Bias:

• What is the purpose of the page?

• Is there a definite point of view?

• Is there an agenda?

• Consider the source.

Under “About Refdesk,” there is a vision statement and a link to a mission statement, which is much like the vision.

Another statement of purpose is in the description of the author where he states his goals.

Here, the Webmaster explains how the page is expensive. Then he appeals for donations which can be made through Amazon.com or PayPal.

With such commercial ties, users need to continue evaluating the site each time it is used.

Remember to Evaluate:

• Relevance

• Credibility

• Authority

• Currency

• Audience

• Bias

Bibliography

• Strichart, Stephen, et. al. Teaching Study Skills and Strategies in High School. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 1997.

• Valenza, Joyce Kassman. Internet Searching Skills. Wynnewood, PA: Schlessinger Media, 1998.

Happy Searching!