I. So this is the Media Center? A. Stacks (Non-fiction, fiction) B. Periodicals C. Reference D. Internet (Surpass, GALILEO, Google)

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1 I. So this is the Media Center? A. Stacks (Non-fiction, fiction) B. Periodicals C. Reference D. Internet (Surpass, GALILEO, Google) II. They can t put anything on the Internet that isn t true. Right? III. What do I do now, and what is a Boolean operator? A. Is he an author or a subject? Is there a difference? IV. Finding the needle in the haystack.

2 Separating Fact and Fiction: Examining the Credibility of Information on the Internet Criteria for Evaluating Web Sites 1. Authority: Author or sponsor of the site. Qualifications and reputation of author/source; the authority and reputation of the source of the information will depend on the expertise, reputation and status of the source.

3 Questions to Ask Is there an author? Is the page signed? Clues to Look For Look for a header or footer stating authorship or an /postal address Is the author qualified and/or reputable? An expert? Are the author's credentials listed? What information can you find about the author through other searches or databases? Who is the sponsor? Sponsorship statement? Is there an "about" link? Is the sponsor of the page reputable? How reputable? Is there a link of information about the author or the sponsor? Who links to this site? If the page includes neither a signature nor a sponsor, is there any other way to determine its origin? Is there an "about" link? Look at/dissect the URL Look at the domain and country codes Are there links that take you outside of the site? Look for frames, URL's different from the current site. Try opening each link in a new page to see the true URL.

4 2. Accuracy: Reliable and error-free information; conformity to fact; precision; exactness. Questions to Ask Is the information reliable and error-free? Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information? Where doubt exists, can the information be crosschecked with a reliable source? Clues to Look For Typographical errors, spelling mistakes, bad grammar, credentials of the info. provider Is the information part of a larger publication, can you find the home page and access editorial information? Bibliographies, references, check with established, reliable, sources

5 3. Objectivity: Judgment based on observable phenomena and uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices Questions to Ask Does the information show a minimum of bias? Is the page designed to sway opinion? Is there any advertising on the page? Clues to Look For Who links to this site? A statement of the aims and objectives of the site (often in the "about this site" section). Advertising banners, links to commercial sites selling products/services

6 4. Currency: Belonging to the present time, being in progress now: current negotiations, prevalent, especially at the present time. Questions to Ask Is the page dated? If so, when was the last update? How current are the links? Have some expired or moved? Clues to Look For Date on page (often at bottom of page) Is the date when the material was first written, first placed on the Web, or the date of when it was last revised? Click on links to pages inside and outside of the site. Do they work?

7 5. Coverage: The extent or degree to which something is observed, analyzed, and reported. Questions to Ask Is there an indication that the page has been completed, and is not still under construction? What topics are covered? How indepth is the material? Clues to Look For "Construction" signs, nonfunctioning links An index A site map

8 Technical Strategies for Evaluating Web Sites Study the URL URL stands for "uniform resource locator" the info shows up in the location bar in Google Chrome, Internet Explorer or whatever browser you may be using. A web page's URL address can help you identify the sponsor or source: Non-governmental and/or professional organization web pages: look for org (organization) Governmental web pages: look for gov (government) Corporate/business/for profit web pages: look for com (commercial) Educational institution web pages: look for edu (educational)

9 Putting it all Together Authority: If your page lists the author credentials and its domain is preferred (.edu,.gov,.org, or.net), and... Accuracy: If your page lists the author and institution that published the page and provides a way of contacting him/her and... Objectivity: If your page provides accurate information with limited advertising and it is objective in presenting the information, and... Currency: If your page is current and updated regularly (as stated on the page) and the links (if any) are also up-to-date, and... Coverage: If you can view the information properly--not limited to fees, browser technology, or software requirement, then... You may have a Web page that could be of value to your research!

10 Surpass GALILEO Google

Searching for Information

Searching for Information INFO/CSE100, Spring 2006 Fluency in Information Technology http://www.cs.washington.edu/100 Apr-10-06 searching @ university of washington 1 Readings and References Reading Fluency