Evaluating Web Sites

1. Need for evaluation of Web sources
2. Traditional print evaluation criteria
• Accuracy
• Authority
• Objectivity
• Currency
• Coverage
3. How to apply evaluative techniques
4. Conclusion
5. References

• The quality of sources on the Web varies tremendously

• Techniques needed to evaluate Web resources
• some traditional techniques are useful
• some new techniques need to be applied

• Accuracy
• Traditional Print
• Is it free from errors?
• Are there editors and/or  fact checkers?
 
• Web Challenge
• Almost anyone can publish on the Web.
• Many Web resources are not verified by editors and/or fact checkers
 
• Practice
• OncoLink
• http://oncolink.upenn.edu
• Smoker's Home Page
• http://www.tezcat.com/~smokers/issues1.html
 

 
• Authority
• Traditional Print
• Are the author's qualifications listed?
• Does the publisher have a known reputation?
 
• Web Challenge
• At times it is difficult to determine authorship.
• The author's qualifications may be absent.
• No publisher is indicated.
 
• Practice
• The United States Constitution
• http://thomas.loc.gov
• Smoker's Homepage
• http://www.tezcat.com/~smokers
 

 
• Objectivity
• Traditional Print
• Is the information presented with a minimum of bias?
• Does the information try to sway the reader's opinion?
 
• Web Challenge
• The goals/aims of persons or groups presenting material may not be clearly stated.
• The Web often functions as a 'virtual soapbox'.
 
• Practice
• National Right to Life Committee
• http://www.nrlc.org
• National Abortion and Reproductive Rights League
• http://naral.org

• Currency
• Traditional Print
• Is the content up-to-date?
• Is the published date clearly labeled?
 
• Web Challenge
• Date is not always included.
• If included date can mean:
• date first written
• date placed on Web
• date last revised
 
• Practice
• USA Today
• http://www.usatoday.com
• Article by H. Tillman, "Evaluating Quality on the Net"
• http://www.tiac.net/users/hope/findqual.html

• Coverage
• Traditional Print
• What topics are included?
• Are the topics explored in depth?
 
• Web Challenge
• Web coverage may differ from print coverage.
• Coverage may include links to other pages.
 
• Practice
• Roget's Thesaurus
• http://humanities.uchicago.edu/forms_unrest/ROGET.html
• CNN
• http://www.cnn.com
• OncoLink
• http://oncolink.upenn.edu
 

How to apply evaluative techniques

• Identify type of Web page:
• Entertainment
• Business/Marketing
• Information/Reference
• Personal Page
• Advocacy
• News
 
• Use a checklist/form
• http://www.science.widener.edu/~withers/webeval.htm
go to #3 to see examples of different checklists.
• http://www.capecod.net/schrockguide/evalhigh.htm
This is a generic form for high school students.
• http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/project/meridian/feat2-6/feat2-6.html
This is a goal based form.
• http://copland.udel.edu/~jconway/webeval/form.htm
This is the form that "Introduction to Computers" students at Caravel Academy will use.
 
• Determine quality

Conclusion

• The Web is only one source of information.
• It is important to be skeptical -- remember almost anyone can publish information on the Web.
• On the Web you have access to information that you can get nowhere else.
• Web evaluation tools are just beginning to be developed, it is an ongoing process.

References

Most of the above ideas were developed by:

    Alexander, Jane and Tate, Marsha Ann.  "Web Site Evaluation." 1998. Widener University. Online.  http://www.science.widner.edu/~withers/webeval.htm