Unit 4: Site Evaluation

Always remember that locating a site is only half of searching. To achieve complete results one must find and then evaluate information.  The Web is frequently referred to as the  world's "vanity press"  because it allows anyone with server access to  publish information. As a result of this freedom, site evaluation becomes even more critical than evaluation of resources obtained from the invisible web. Periodical articles  included in databases available on the invisible web  have undergone editorial review something which is noticeably absent from the web publishing process. 

As you begin the evaluation process, take a moment to scan the entire front page of a site and use the scroll bar to visit both the top and bottom of the page -- RATS. Take note of navigation tools (buttons, bars) that will guide your travel through the site pages. Study the layout and get the "feel" of  link presentation and organization. Do images play a significant role in navigation? 

Increasingly, organizations are publishing the evaluation criteria used to determine acceptable site content. Review the criteria published by the American Medical Association http://pubs.ama-assn.org/ama_web.html.  Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, a database provider on the invisible web also publishes web site selection criteria http://www.csa.com/detailsV5/ird2.html.

Charlatans, Leeches, and Old Wives: Medical Misinformation. Susan Detwiler.  Searcher.  March 2001. Proxy required

Safe Havens
When you encounter questionable web information or receive suspect email
 refer to HoaxBusters, a  Dept. of Energy web site ( http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/) which prides itself in keeping folks current on all the latest attempts to clog our email, threaten our security, and just trouble us. They educate users on how to recognize a hoax, what to do about them, and provide a history of the problem. 

Urban Legends.  http://www.snopes2.com/  Barbara and David P. Mikkelson
The site is fun and is thematically arranged  with interesting categories - toxins du jour, military, science, pregnancy, horror just to name a few. 

Authority
Study the site to determine what individual or organization is responsible for the content. Look for a Help, About Us, ? link to answer these questions. 

Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for a contact us,  suggestion, or ask a question link. An email link implies a sense of accountability for the site  and is often handy if you have questions about site content.  Look carefully because many sites often advertise the commercial design service used to create/host the site and these individuals are different from the people responsible for site content.

Examples:  
Compare these two White House sites. www.whitehouse.net and www.whitehouse.gov

             <top of page>

Purpose
After scanning the site's home page can you determine for what audience the site is intended? Consider the question you are trying to answer and think about whether the site you located is the best one to answer your questions.

Examples:
Compare these two animal related sites: http://www.avma.org/ and http://www.purina.com/

  <top of page>   

Content
Reflect on your information need and ask yourself if the content provided on the site is fact, accurate, opinion, comprehensible, unique, collection of external links,  or relevant to your question. 

Examples:
Compare these two medical sites: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts.htm and http://147.129.1.10/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm

  <top of page>   

Bias 
Locate the URL and decide how the domain type affects the site content.  Recent developments in the assignment of domain names is changing so that more sites can receive purchase any designation. Review content carefully.

• .gov   government
• .edu   educational institution (could be faculty or student or department)
• .com  commercial
• .mil     military
• .org     organization
  

Examples:
Compare the impact of the domain of these two sites: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/ and www.navs.org/

  <top of page>   

Currency
One of the most touted aspects of the World Wide Web is the immediacy of information available. Breaking news stories often appear on the Web before we read about them in print media. Once again consider the information that you need to answer your question  - does it need to be updated frequently or might older sites equally meet your needs.

Examples:
Compare the date significance of these two sites: http://www.fearofdolls.com/gorey.html  and  http://www.his.com/~panda/paulb/gorey.html

  <top of page>   

Organization
Look for sites that load quickly, are well organized, clearly navigable, and easy on the eyes without being boring. Effective design and organization set the stage for user satisfaction. Is the topic you are searching for evident on the home page or do you have to search through several pages?

Examples:
Compare the organization and lay out of these two sites:  http://www.loc.gov/ and http://www.co.loudoun.va.us/lcpl/

  <top of page>   

Domain
Type of server hosting the web site.

RATS
Read all the screen.

URL
Uniform resource locator or site address. Usually found in the box labeled Location or NetSite at the top of the computer screen.