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Evaluating Websites

Evaluating websites

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Page 1: Evaluating websites

Evaluating Websites

Page 2: Evaluating websites

Consider the Web

• If there are millions of terabytes of information, how much of that is quality information?

• What should be considered when evaluating websites?

[Some of you may already feel very comfortable with this, but it’s always worth reviewing again.]

Page 3: Evaluating websites

Credibility

• Who is the author?• Is there an author listed anywhere on the website? • Is there an “about” section that gives information about the

author?• If there are articles linked, do the articles have a good citation

including a date for the publication?• Where are the articles posted? Is it a .com site or a more

reliable .gov or .edu site?• You may also need to search the author

on a website to see what you can find out about him/her.

• What is the author’s expertise on the subject?

Page 4: Evaluating websites

URL Extensions

Extension Definition of the Extension Information about

.com Commercial Most common in world; businesses use this extension.

.net Network Most commonly used by Internet Service providers.

.org Organization Most commonly used for non-profit groups or trade associations.

.edu Education U.S. postsecondary institutions that are institutionally accredited, i.e., the entire institution and not just particular programs, by agencies on the U.S. Department of Education’s list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies.

.biz   Small businesses use this extension.

.info   Credible source websites and signifies a resource. Most popular except for .com, .net, .org.

.mobi Mobile This is reserved for mobile websites.

.us United States The newest extension and is for American websites. Has the largest amount of available names in inventory.

.tv   Rich content/multi-media websites, especially from the entertainment industry.

.name   Only domain name extension specifically for personal use. Personal websites that include display photos or personal information about an individual.

.co.uk   .co indicates the domain name is for commercial purposes and from the UK. Other countries also have country codes.

What does the URL extension tell you about the site? For research .edu, .com, and .org have the most reliable information.

Page 5: Evaluating websites

Credibility – Addresses

What about contact information? Is there a mailing address, email, or phone number? This lets you know that there is a recognizable person behind the website, someone you can contact if you want more information.

Page 6: Evaluating websites

Content – Why

• Who is the audience?• Why was the page created?• Was it to sell something, advertise something or just

make information available?

Page 7: Evaluating websites

Content – What

• Does the website offer something unique or not found easily somewhere else?

• What is the relative value of the website in comparison to the other sites available on the topic?

• If there are links, are they relevant to the site?

Page 8: Evaluating websites

Content – Bias

• http://www.americanpatrol.com

• Is there bias?

Page 9: Evaluating websites

Currency

When was the site created? How to find out:

1- Check the web archive (The Way Back Machine)

http://www.archive.org/index.php

They record changes in the website. Although it's not going to give an exact start date, it will help you have a better idea.

2- Check the whois of the domain, so you can find out when the domain name was created by entering the domain name into

http://www.whois.sc/

Page 10: Evaluating websites

Whois for Mymcpl.org

• Domain ID:D128146077-LROR• Domain Name:MYMCPL.ORG• Created On:01-Sep-2006 14:49:21 UTC• Last Updated On:13-Aug-2012 13:47:22 UTC• Expiration Date:01-Sep-2017 14:49:21 UTC• Sponsoring Registrar:Network Solutions, LLC (R63-LROR)• Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED• Registrant ID:41062079-NSIV• Registrant Name:Bryan Gash• Registrant Organization:Mid-Continent Public Library• Registrant Street1:ATTN insert domain name here• Registrant Street2:care of Network Solutions• Registrant Street3:PO Box 459• Registrant City:Drums• Registrant State/Province:PA• Registrant Postal Code:18222• Registrant Country:US• Registrant Phone:+1.5707088780• Registrant Phone Ext.:• Registrant FAX:• Registrant FAX Ext.:

Page 11: Evaluating websites

Currency – Information dates

• When was the site last revised?• How reliable are the links? Are there any broken links?

Page 12: Evaluating websites

Structure – Good Graphic Design Principles

• http://www.theworldsworstwebsiteever.com/

Do I need to say more? Colors should be pleasing to the eye. Text should be easy to read on a colored background.

Page 13: Evaluating websites

Structure – Navigation

http://graphicdesign.about.com/od/effectivewebsites/a/web_navigation.htm

Navigation is important to the site’s usefulness. Read the five rules included in the About article.

Page 14: Evaluating websites

Structure – Spelling, Grammar

This is a deal breaker for me. When I find the first word that is misspelled, I’m done with the site. If you are in the position that you select which websites are linked on your library’s web page, make this as important a rule as credibility or content.

This is a link to the Spell Checker poem – I think spell checker is the bane of our existence as a society. Well, that may be overstated!

http://grammar.about.com/od/spelling/a/spellcheck.htm

Page 15: Evaluating websites

Structure – Needs of the Disabled

• http://www.digital-web.com/articles/understanding_disabilities_when_designing_a_website/

This is a very thorough article about the needs of all types of disabilities.

Page 16: Evaluating websites

Medical and Legal Websites

• The HonCode is a non-governmental group that provides a certification of medical information on the web. http://www.hon.ch/HONcode/Conduct.html

• Timeliness is of the greatest importance on medical and legal sites since things can change almost daily.

• Because you are not relying on an edited, approved print source, you must do a thorough job of evaluating these websites.

• There are many .gov sites for medical that give very customer friendly information.