Websites vs. Databases

Glenforest Secondary School Library Resource Centre

Primary Source: M. Rosettis, St. Augustine

Evaluating Web Sites

Evaluating a web site is an important activity because … not all information found on the World Wide Web is accurate and not all web sites, no matter how attractive, are good.

It’s …

A

ll

A

bout

O

ngoing

C

ritical

C

oncern AAOCC …

A

ccuracy

A

uthority

O

bjectivity

C

urrency

C

overage

Accuracy

 Who

wrote

the page?

 Can you

contact

the author / webmaster?

 What is the

purpose

of the document?

 Is the author

qualified

to write this document?

Accuracy

 Check for: e-mail address postal address or phone number  Know the difference: Author v.s. Webmaster

Authority

 What are the author’s credentials?

 Where is the document published?

 Is there institutional affiliation?

 Check the URL domain for clues: – .edu, .org, .gov, .com, .mil

– .ca, .on, .au, .uk, etc.

Example: http://tqjunior.www.thinkquest.

org /4471 http://www.nasa.

gov /spaceflight

Objectivity

 What are the goals of the web site? … to persuade … to inform … to entertain … to sell  Are the goals met?

Objectivity

 How detailed is the information?

– too simple, just right, too complex?

 What opinions are expressed?

 Is the information free of bias?

 Does the site promote advertising?

Currency

 When was it produced?

– Look for copyright © information  When was the site last updated?

 Do all the links function?

 Is the information on the page outdated?

Coverage

 Is there a balance of text and images?

 Do the links complement the web site’s theme?

 Is the information cited correctly?

Coverage

 Is special software required to browse the web site?

 Is there a cost to view the information?

 Is the site organized well?

In Summary:

If the site:  lists the

author

and

institution

that published the web page(s)  provides a way to

contact

the author  lists the author’s

credentials

 has a preferred

domain

(.edu, .gov, .org, .net)

In Summary:

 provides

accurate

information  has

limited advertising

 is

objective

(unbiased) in presenting information  Is

current

and is

updated

regularly

In Summary:

 Has operational and relevant

links

 Can be

viewed without limitations

Then your information source is most likely a

reliable

and

valid

one for your research.

Remember …

A A O C C

It’s

A

ll

A

bout

O

ngoing

C

ritical

C

oncern.

M. Rosettis ~ 2001

Do these websites A A O C C?

          www.dowethics.com

www.getoutraged.com

www.whirledbank.org

www.moonmovie.com/moonmovie/ www.malepregnancy.com

www.sandman.com/telco.html

www.dhmo.org

www.whyfiles.org/020radiation/ www.kevdo.com/lipbalm/addict.html

www.nidsci.org/

You may want to consider using a library database instead … What is a library database?

What is a library database?

     A website that requires a paid subscription in order to access information. Contains information from published works such as articles from magazines or encyclopedias. Can be used to search for titles, authors, magazines, dates, etc. Often give you access to full-text articles that can be printed or e-mailed. Are selected by librarians to meet the needs of their library patrons.

How is a library database different from a website?

Library Databases

 Get their information from professionals or experts in the field.

 Contain published works where facts are checked.

  Easy to cite in a bibliography and may create the citation for you Help you narrow down your topic or suggest related subjects.

 Updated frequently and include the date of publication.

 Available to anyone using a computer in a library that subscribes to databases or any library cardholder using a computer outside the library.

Websites

 Can be written by anyone regardless of expertise.

 Content is not necessarily checked by anyone, expert or not.

  Don't provide the information necessary to create a complete citation.

Aren't often organized to support student research needs.

 May not contain current information or indicate when a page is updated.

 Available to anyone with an internet connection inside or outside the library.

What databases are available on www.glenforestlibrary.com

           TumbleReadables Global Issues in Context BigChalk (elibrary, History Study Centre, Proquest Literature) CultureGrams Statistics Canada Ebsco Canadiana Encyclopedia Encyclopedia Britannica Encarta Infotrac Science Research Centre

Always remember …

 A good resource does not hide its identity from the user.

 Good luck with your research!