Evaluating Sources CPIT 221 We use information sources

Evaluating Sources CPIT 221

We use information sources to make big decisions in life Which car should I buy? Which doctor should I choose? Should my child have this surgery? Should I take this medication? We want to ensure the information we choose is reliable, credible, current, balanced, relevant, and accurate!

Introduction The easiest way to ensure that information is valid is to obtain it from a reputable source When we use a library or a professional organization/DB, the books, journals and other resources have already been evaluated

Evaluating books A book is reliable, but to determine if it’s useful to you, examine: Table of Contents Index / Glossary Bibliography Visuals (diagrams, charts, tables)

Evaluating journals Journals are reliable, but to determine if an article is useful to you, examine: Abstract / Conclusion Visuals (diagrams, charts, tables) Headings Online versions of reputable journals merit the same level of trust as printed versions

Internet Research With over 150 million sites, the Internet provides access to an incredible amount of information However, anyone regardless of their qualifications, can publish on the Internet, which is a blessing and a curse More timely and widespread distribution of info All voices can be heard Info is not always accurate, because it’s not censored, reviewed, or evaluated So using information from the Web is like swimming on a beach without a lifeguard…

Outline To ensure the reliability of online information, we must evaluate it for the following criteria: AUTHORITY ACCURACY BIAS CURRENCY

Authorship Do I recognize the author? Is there info about the author’s current position, credentials, experience, etc. ? Did I link to the site from a reputable page? Is this a personal page or is it part of a site belonging to a major institution? Does the author’s experience really qualify him/her as an expert in this topic?

Authorship example Qualified to write on topics in the area of technology as it affects the arts, education, business, and workplace

But what if I can’t find any information on the author?

1 - Look for credibility Look for words/phrases such as: About us, Who Am I, FAQs, For More, Company Information, Profiles, Our Staff, Home Do a Google search about the author E-mail the author If you have no information other than an e-mail link, write a polite e-mail asking for more information

2 - Truncate the URL Delete characters in the address line up to the next slash mark to see if a main page offers more information about who is responsible for the page For example, go from: http: //www. statecollege. edu/history/middleages/chaucer/smith. htm http: //www. statecollege. edu/history/middleages/chaucer http: //www. statecollege. edu/history/middleages http: //www. statecollege. edu/history http: //www. statecollege. edu

Accuracy Does the author provide enough supporting evidence and document sources so that you can verify the information’s accuracy? Can facts, statistics, or other information be verified through other sources? Is the information inconsistent with information you learned from other sources? Do there appear to be errors on the page (spelling, grammar, facts)?

Accuracy example (I) Are the claims supported by credible evidence?

Accuracy example (II) Is there a bibliography? Link? In text-references? Demonstrates knowledge of the literature Allows you to cross-check

Accuracy example (III) Is the site well-constructed? Well-written?

Bias Is the information presented in an objective, unbiased way? Are opinions clearly labeled? Are opposing opinions acknowledged?

Bias Is the purpose of the site clear? If the site is designed to help an organization sell products or further a political agenda, the information is likely to be biased

Bias…domain abbreviations Domain abbreviations help you determine a site’s sponsor Common Abbreviations Sponsor . co, . com Commercial Business Company/individual . org Non-profit organization . ac, . edu Academic or educational College/University . gov Federal government . net Network provider

More domain abbreviations . biz = business . int = international institution . mil = U. S. military site . name = individual Internet user . pro = professional’s site ~ = personal site pg. 465

Web forums & collectively generated sites Be cautious of un-moderated, public Web forums Be cautious of collectively generated sites as they contain strong disclaimers

Currency What is the date of publication? Is the date clearly noted? When was the site last revised? Is the information up-to-date? Is currency important in this case? Some subjects, like medicine or technology, require current information. Other subjects , like religion or history, may not need to be as current.

Currency example (I) Currency of the site’s information and creation/update: Look for copyright or Last updated

Currency example (II) Currency of references used

Checklist for evaluating sources Ask yourself: Who is the author? Who is the sponsor? Is there supporting evidence and document sources so we can verify information? Are opinions clearly labelled? Are opposing opinions addressed? Are there any disclaimers? Is it recent information? Is the site updated?

Internet directories The following directories will help you conduct scholarly research on the Internet The Internet Public Library www. ipl. org The WWW Virtual Library www. vlib. org IEEE Spectrum www. spectrum. ieee. org National Science Foundation www. nsf. gov More on pg. 465 of your handbook

Conclusion: Test your understanding Why must we evaluate Internet sources? What four criteria must we examine to determine the credibility of a source? If a site ends in. edu, then it’s sponsored by ___. Online versions of reputable journals merit the same level of trust as printed versions. T/F?

Conclusion: Test your understanding Collectively generated sites are a reliable source for research T/F? Why is it important for a site to contain a bibliography / link to credible sources? How can we find information about an author from a website?