Information in this tutorial is from Evaluating Web Resources (copyright Jan Alexander & Marsha Tate, 1996-2005) an on-line tutorial created by Jan Alexander, Reference Librarian and Archivist, Wolfgram Memorial Library, Widener University.
THE WORLD WIDE WEB is a good research tool if the researcher's objectives are clear. As with print resources, a researcher must analyze the web resources to determine their bias, authority, and their quality.
THE PURPOSES of this tutorial are
1) to present a framework for categorizing websites, and
2) to offer a method for evaluating web sites along five criteria
A) Review the descriptions of the following TYPES of web sites, and click on the hyperlinks to see examples.
ADVOCACY
- sponsored by an organization wishing to influence opinion and/or promote ideas
- can end .org or .com if the site offers something for sale
- will end in a country designation when the site originates outside the U.S.
EX: Canada - .ca United Kingdom - .uk
Examples:
The Green Party of Canada: http://www.green.ca
Cancer Advocacy Coalition Canada- grassroots action for cancer care:
http://www.canceradvocacycoalition.com
BUSINESS/MARKETING
- sponsored by a commercial enterprise in the business of making money; promoting and/or selling products or services
- can end .com
- may end in a country designation when the site originates outside the U.S.
EX: Canada - .ca United Kingdom - .uk
Examples:
Bechtel Corporation: http://www.bechtel.com/spjames.htm
McGill-Queen's University Press: http://www.mqup.mcgill.ca INFORMATIONAL
- created by an organization or entity whose purpose is to present factual information
- can end .gov or .edu
Examples:
Statistics Canada: http://www.statscan.ca
University of British Columbia Library: http://www.library.ubc.ca/
NEWS
- created by an organization or entity whose purpose is to present very current information
- can end .com
Examples:
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: http://www.cbc.ca
The Canadian Press: http://www.cp.org/english/hp.htm PERSONAL
- published by an individual who may or may not be affiliated with a larger organization or institution
- can have a ~ in the address; can end .com or .edu
- may end in a country designation when the site originates outside the U.S.
EX: Canada - .ca United Kingdom - .uk
Examples:
Well Known People Who Happen to be Canadian: http://schwinger.harvard.edu/~terning/Canadians
Blupete - Nova Scotia history: http://www.blupete.com
B) Review the brief descriptions of the following CRITERIA for evaluating web sites.
(Descriptions from: Evaluating Web Resources)
ACCURACY
AUTHORITY
- Is it clear who is responsible for the contents? Are there "About" and "Contact Us" pages?
- Does the person responsible for the site indicate his or her qualifications for writing on the topic?
- Is there a way of verfying the legitimacy of the organization or company?
- Is Webmaster and Author the same person?
OBJECTIVITY
- Are the organization's biases clearly stated?
- Is the information provided as a public service?
- Is there advertising on the page, and is it clearly differentiated from the information?
- Are editorials and opinion pieces clearly labeled?
CURRENCY
- Is the publication date clearly indicated? Is there a date when the page or site was revised or updated?
- Are there other indications that the material is kept current?
- Are there any dead links?
COVERAGE
- Is it clear what topics the page or site intends to address?
- Does the page or site succeed in addressing these topics, or has something significant been left out?
- Is there an indication the page or site has been completed and is not still under construction?
C) Print out a checklist for each TYPE of website
ADVOCACY - checklist
BUSINESS/MARKETING - checklist
NEWS - checklist
INFORMATIONAL - checklist
PERSONAL - checklist
EXAMPLE summary statement for web site about citing a web page on a bibliography:
Citation Style Guides for Internet and Electronic Sources
http://www.library.ualberta.ca/guides/citation/index.cfm
A researcher looking for guidance citing internet and other electronic sources of material for academic writing will find this informational site useful. The author is a University of Alberta librarian who presents an organized and thorough set of relevant examples, as well as links to style guides. While the site author admits her guidelines are not the definitive standard, the site does provide a thoughtful approach to citing non-print resources and illustrates them with specific examples. B. Arntzen
Questions/Comments may be addressed to Betsy Arntzen, Canadian-American Center
|
