Transcript 12 Basic IQ Skills: Evaluating a web site

Evaluating a Website
12 Basic IQ Skills
The four pillars of IQ!
•
•
•
•
Find
Retrieve
Analyze
Use
Evaluating a
web site is part
of the “Analyze”
area.
Criteria for evaluating a web
site:
• Source
• Purpose
• Content
Source
• Who is responsible for this
site?
• What are the credentials of
the individual or group?
• Are they qualified to write
about this topic? Are they
experts?
Purpose
• Why was the site created?
– To
– To
– To
– To
inform?
persuade?
sell?
entertain?
Content
• When was the site updated?
Are the links still active?
• Is there an obvious bias?
• Is the information free of
errors?
• Is it presented professionally?
• Is the information in-depth or
superficial?
Purpose
Source
Content
Source
Purpose
Content
What about Wikipedia?
• Use source(s), purpose, and
content to evaluate entries.
• Use as a pre-search site to
generate alternate search
terms.
• Look at sources and external
links for additional resources.
• Pay attention to any warnings.
How can I find good
theological web resources?
You can find a list of
sources gathered by
Lila Parrish, Stitt
Library Public Services
Librarian, on the library
website.
Curated and Annotated Links
Sites like the New
Testament Gateway or the
Wabash Internet Guide to
Religion index authoritative
sites by topic and can give
you more productive results
on theological topics than
Google.
Review
• Evaluating web sites will help you to find
the best information for your research
need – whether it is personal, academic or
professional.
• By evaluating the Source, Purpose and
Content of a site, you can best determine
its usefulness for your research need.
• Think outside of Google and use guides
from trusted institutions to help narrow
your theological search of the Internet.
Sources and Resources
• William B. Badke, Research Strategies:
Finding Your Way Through the Information
Fog, 3rd ed., New York: iUniverse, Inc.,
2008
• Checklist for Evaluating Web sites:
http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/webcheck.
html
• Library of Congress Web Site Evaluation
Checklist: http://www.opalonline.org/LOCwebeval200809.htm
• 100 Useful Tips and Tools to Research the
Deep Web: http://www.online-collegeblog.com/index.php/features/100-usefultips-and-tools-to-research-the-deep-web/
Questions?
[email protected]