Week 6

Lecture Summary:

This lecture was about the evaluation and authentication of websites. The accuracy of information found on the web can be questionable because anyone can create a website. There is virtually no control over what can be published. It is often hard to determine the ownership of a web page. Webpages can be signed by the creator but there is no proof that suggests that he/she is also qualified enough to give trustworthy information about a topic. The goals of the author or sponser of a website, are generally never stated, and it can be hard to tell if the information given is biased or not. Validating the currency of the information is also a problem; websites are not required to present a publication date and if they do, it could be misleading. This means that more research must be obtained in order to validate the information. The following is a list of criteria questions a person can ask when trying to determine the auntenticity of a site:-

• Accuracy - Is the information reliable and is the author verified?
• Authority - Is the sponser reputable and the author qualified?
• Objectivity - Are there any advertisments and is there much evidence of bias?
• Currency - Is the page dated and was it updated recently, are the links current?
• Coverage - Is the information in-depth and valuable?

It is also important that the domain name is appropriate to the content. (.edu) and (.gov) are generally the most reliable of all domain types. It is good to steer clear from personal sites or any URL's that contain (~) or (%) because these are the ones that can be written by absolutely anybody, and are usually strongly biased or unfactual, therefore they are not reliable resources or authentic pieces of information.

By reading the text a website provides, the quality of it can help determine if the site is authentic or not. The text should be well written and be detailed and proffessional as printed publications eg: a local newspaper. All sources should be documented via the use of links, footnotes and references. There also should be no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. Finally, the page should be well formed and all links and pictures in working order.

It is crucial to evaluate the authenticity of a website before using it as a reference in any university work. Otherwise you could be using information that is not correct resulting in a lesser grade than you deserve.


Tutorial Summary:

1. Review the ICYouSee Critical Thinking page and summarise the strategies for evaluating information found in websites.

This website can be found at: http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think.html

Make Sure you are in the right place = The internet doesnt have everything. You may be able to find better more effective information in a textbook. Beofre you go on the internet you should ask yourself if its worth searching through all the information it provides when it may just be better to get it from another source.

When in doubt, doubt = It is important that you check the page for proper authentication otherwise you may get mis-leading or false information. Find the author and the date of the publication to help ensure the information you found is authentic and correct.

Consider the Source = By checking up on the author you will know if he or she has the proper authority and expertise to make their publication trustworthy. It is important not only to check their name but also to research it to find out if he or she is a qualified person that has other publications elsewhere.

Know whats happening = Some web sites are to inform, some are to sell and some are to make a statement. By identifing what the web site is trying to say it will be easier to see if this is the site you are in fact after. It is important to know the purpose or intention of a website because it helps identify whether or not the text is biased or not.

Look at details = By looking at the grammer, spelling and wording in the text you can tell if a site is professional or not. If there are many mis-spellings and sentences that dont make sence the author must not be of an educated background and the text is probally just opinion and therefore not a reliable resource.

Distinguish web pages from pages found on the Web = Sometimes the text on a website was actually written for something else like a book, journal, or newspaper article. If the text seems written like this, the site must provide the reader with the correct original references. If however, the website does not provide this, it is best not to use the information.

Screenshot of ICYouSee website:

By danijolly22 at 2008-04-19

2. Complete the "Reliving the Sixties: a Web Site Evaluation Assignment" exercise on the ICYouSee website.

This can be found at http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think60.html

Screenshot of Exercise:

By danijolly22 at 2008-04-18

Website 1

http://www.lib.virginia.edu/small/exhibits/sixties/index.html

Accuracy = After searching up other sites to compare this to i found that the information was generally the same so i would consider the text in this one to be reliable. It is edited by a well known university so this gives this webite authenticity

Authorship = The text is a collection of works from many authors and all have been credited by the university.

Purpose = Included in this website is a foreword and the proffessor of the university clearly states the purpose of the site and what she hopes to achieve by publishing it. there is no advertising throughout the pages and nothing has been written in a biased format.

Detail and Design = The spelling, grammer and use of wording is accurate and the pictures match to what is being spoken about. The design of the webpage is easy to navigate, all the links works and attention to detail is seen in most areas.

Overall Worth = This website would be very useful for someone wanting to know about the 1960's. It appears to be authentic by the way its written. A university is also a reputable source to get information from.

Screenshot:

By danijolly22 at 2008-04-18

Website 2

http://www.hippy.com/php/sitetopics.php?topic=1

Accuracy = This website does not provide the authors name. Most of the links take the viewer to a page that contains many peoples opinion, none of which can be verified. The website mainly gives an impression that it is a 'hippy' chat forum.

Authorship = There are no references on the page. This website only contains links to other places most of which dont provide an author or editor.

Purpose = This website mainly discusses the issues of the 1960's, like the civil rights movement, from a hippy's point of view. The only advertisement visible sells hippy calanders and is found at the top of everypage.

Detail and Design = The design and layout of this page is very amateurish. This makes me think this website is homemade and not from a reputable source. The spelling and grammar is incorrect throughout. This shows me the authors are not educated and gives me the assumption that what they say shouldnt be entirely trusted. It is a page in which people can express their own views on the matters making it biased in some ways.

Overall Worth = Overall this is not a web site I would use. It lacks legimate information, any referencing and there are many spelling and grammar errors. Universities would in no doubt deem this site as unreliable and it obviously shouldnt be used as a reference source because of this.

Screenshot:

By danijolly22 at 2008-04-19

Reading Summary:

There were no readings to summarise this week :)