Transcript Evaluation of Information (Abda Anne)

Evaluation of information
Introduction
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It is common for people to challenge things they
learn
It is known that not every information is true
Medical decision based on false information
may deadly consequences
Introduction
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Internet
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is a major source of information for many people
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has no editorial board to validate its content
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provides both good and poor quality documents
Not all published information is true
Medical decision based on false information
may deadly consequences
One needs to assess information before using
it.
Objectives
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Discuss the importance of evaluating
information
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Present criteria for evaluating information
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Describe evaluation techniques,
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Evaluate some web pages
Expected outcomes
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One is expected to :
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Understand the importance of evaluating
documents,
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Develop the habit to evaluate documents,
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List some evaluation criteria,
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Identify elements useful for evaluation purposes.
Definition
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Evaluate : “ determine the significance, worth,
or condition of usually by careful appraisal and
study”
Evalution of information
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Critically analyze documents,
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Establish quality,
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Decide about the credit to give to documents
Reasons to evaluate
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Quantity of information
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Frequent repetition in publication
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=> need to select updated information
Presence of incorrect or false information
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=> need to select the best documents
=> ensure to use correct information
Information: essential for medical decision
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=> avoid harmful consequences
Internet resources evaluation
guidelines
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There are several guidelines on how to
evaluatie internet resources
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HonCode : Health on the Net Code of conduct
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NetScoring
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Desire Handbook
They define the criteria of good information
They list important questions to ask about
documents
HonConde
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Published HON
Foundation
Intended for
producers of medical
web site
Defines 8 principles
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Authoritty,
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Complementarity,
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Privacy,
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Attribution,
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Justifiability,
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Transparency,
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Financial disclosure
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advertising policy
Criteria for evaluation (1/2)
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accessibility
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content
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Links
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accuracy
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credibility
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organization
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adequacy
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currency
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privacy
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deontology
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design
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advertising
policy
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attribution
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authority
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complementari
ty
comprehensive
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quantitative
aspects
reputation of
the source
financial
disclosure
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interactivity
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transparency
justifiability
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uniqueness
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validity
Criteria for evaluation (1/2)
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Evaluation criteria can grouped into the
following:
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Relevance to user's need
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Provenance of the information
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Information production process
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Content related criteria
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Presentation related criteria
User relevance
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Important questions :
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Who is the target audience target audience ?
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What is the scope of the document ?
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What is the reading level ?
Places to find answers :
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Books : introduction, third party opinion, cover
pages,
Web page : “about” link, third party opinion, web
site directories
Provenance of the information
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Important questions :
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Who produced the document ?
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What are the goals of the producers ?
Places to find answers
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Books : title page, introduction, cover page, library
catalogues
Web resources : “about”, about the authors, web
site directories
Production process
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Important questions :
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How documents are reviewed and validated ?
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What aspects are considered when validating ?
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How and where the presented informed was
collected ?
Places to find answers
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Books : are usually reviewed and edited
Journal articles : are usually peer-reviewed,
instructions for authors, journal policy
Web resources : “about” link, our contributors
Content related
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Important questions :
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Is the information accurate, factual, correct ?
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Are other documents cited ?
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Is it possible to distinguish facts from opinions ?
Places to find answers
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In the text : wording, affirmation, citations,
quotations
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List of references
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Reader's own knowledge and expericence
Presentation
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Important question :
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How well is the content structured ?
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Is the language comprehensible ?
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Is the document easy to read ?
Places to find answers
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Table of content, index,
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Text : wording, mistakes, interpretation of facts
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Text size, colours, quality of illustration, layout
Evaluation process
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Ask questions
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Find answers,
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Apply criteria while answering,
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Rate information
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Take decision
Elements to use for evaluation
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Meta information: catalogs, directories
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Printed documents
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Table of contents
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Cover pages and title page,
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Introductory materials
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List of references,
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Link “About”,
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Language : wording
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Document layout
Evaluation steps
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Before reading
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While reading
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Use catalogs and directories to identify, filter and
select
Look at the document different parts to find answer
After reading
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Make a summary,
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Have an opinion about the document,
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Decide how to use the document
Exercise #1
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Visit the following page on malaria treatment
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Find information about
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http://bit.ly/ils-e1
The author and organization responsible for the
site,
Sources used to produce the document
After reading
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Do you think the document is valid ?
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Do you think the information is worth using ?
Exercise #2
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Download the following document
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http://bit.ly/ils-e2
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Find the author and his affiliation,
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Who is the target audience
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Does it cite other sources,
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Are fact distinguishable from opinion,
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Is the language correct
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Is the document easy to read
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What is your opinion about the document ?