The Next Step…

Deeper yet into the

Research Pyramid…

Giving credit….

This slide show is based on the original created by Joyce Valenza

http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/jvweb.html

Hey there! Have you evaluated?

Is that site

good enough to cite?

Remember:Anyone can publish

anythingon the Web!

It is your job, as a researcher, to look for

quality!

Hmmm. This one looks good.

How can I tell for sure?

Question Authority!!

CREDIBILITY / AUTHORITY

Who is the author?

Why is he or she an expert? (experience? Education?)

Is this a personal page? (Clues: ~ tilde, %, users, members)

Is it part of a major institution?

Is the page hosted by a free server like AOL Members, Tripod, Geocities?

Look for credibility clues!

Words and phrases to look for:• About us, Who Am I, FAQs, For

More, Company Information, Profiles, Our Staff, Home

• Search for the author in a search engine or online database

• Ask your teacher-librarian for help

Truncate the URL

Delete characters in the address line up to the next slash mark to see if a main page offers more information about who is responsible for publishing the page you are interested in.

Go from:http://pathology.uth.tmc.edu/courses/BT2003/BTstudents2003_files%5CPlague2003.htm

TO

http://pathology.uth.tmc.edu/

What can you learn from a URL?

• You can use the end, or suffix of a domain name to help you judge the validity of the information and the potential bias of a website.

• This strategy is not always accurate.

URLs as clues to content.com=commercial sites (vary in their credibility)

.gov=U.S. government site

.org=organization, often non-profit. Some have strong bias and agendas

.edu=school or university site (is it K–12? By a student? By a scholar?)

.store=retail business

.int=international institution

.ac=educational institution (like .edu)

.mil=U.S. military site

.net=networked service provider, Internet administrative site

.museum=museum

.name=individual Internet user

.biz=a business

.pro=professional’s site

~=personal site

What do their URLs reveal about these sites?

http://personal.statecollege.edu/~ejv114/

http://www.fi.edu/wright/index.html

http://www.house.gov/house/Legproc.html

http://aolmembers.com/joyciev328/civalwarsong

RELIABILITY

Does the source present a particular view or bias?

Sometimes a bias is useful for persuasive essays or debates.

Recognizing bias is important.

RELEVANCE

• Does this information directly support my hypothesis/thesis or help to answer my question?

• Does the source give you enough information?

DATE

• When was this information created?

• Revised?

• (Be suspicious of undated material.)

So, why should we care about all of this?

There are bigger questions in life!You will be using information to

make important decisions!

• Which car should I buy?• Which doctor should I choose?• Should my child have this surgery?• Should I take this medication?

You want to be able to ensure the information you choose is reliable, credible, current, balanced, relevant, and accurate!

Evaluation is important!

Learn to be fussy!

ASSIGNMENT - Day #4

By the end of Day 4:

• Find at least 1 quality WEB PAGE.

GRADE ALERT!! To get credit for today:

1. Give the librarian a completed PINK citation sheet

2. Make sure you complete BOTH sides.

ASSIGNMENT - Day #5

By the end of Day 5:

GRADE ALERT!! To get credit for today:

1. Check with the librarian to find out if all your assignments have been handed in.

2. Make suggested corrections on the citation sheets that have been graded.

3. Read your sources and take notes.

Let’s try it out!

→

Author & Sponsoring Organization Are the Most Important Criteria

Take a look at this site:(Be sure to use the evaluation checklist on the back of

your pink web citation slip)

After 9/11

Have You Been Googlized?

There ARE other search engines.

Don’t Forget…..

· Use Boolean Search OperatorsAND

OR

NOT

“Phrase in quotes”

* (Truncation)