-+Evaluating+Websites

**Evaluating Websites: C.R.A.P Detection (Currency, Reliability, Authority, Purpose)**
Who is the author of this website? An author can be one person, a couple of people, or entire organization.
 * AUTHORITY **
 * What are the author’s credentials? (Credentials = educational background & occupational experience)
 * Is the source known and respected? Is there any way to contact the source?
 * Does a high ranking on search engine results mean a source is authoritative?


 * Positive Example:** Creatine Supplementation in Athletes: Review
 * This page states that SportsMedWeb "is a non-profit, educational site designed for endurance athletes." At this page, click the //Medical Tent// button, then click the //Who// link to display a page that includes a link to the professional credentials for Dr. Mark Jenkins.
 * This site has an educational domain, which indicates that the information supports knowledge and learning.
 * The site is sponsored by Rice University. A postal address and phone number are provided on the university's main page located at.


 * Negative Authority Example:** Dihydrogen Monoxide
 * No personal author information is available.
 * No About Us section

Look at the header and footer of the page or homepage for:
 * How to Locate Author & Sponsor Information**
 * name of the sponsoring institution or agency/group
 * link to a page describing the sponsor's contact information, mission, founders, and current staff and contributors (i.e., //About Us//)
 * name(s) of author(s)
 * date of creation/revision
 * e-mail address
 * snail mail address
 * telephone number
 * link to the author’s credentials (i.e., //About the Author// or //About Us//)
 * link to the sponsoring institution or group

Is the website biased?
 * RELIABILITY **
 * Is the site fair and objective?
 * Is it an advocacy site? Advocacy sites promote the interests of an organization, a cause, or a point-of-view, and are biased by definition.
 * Is there a conflict of interest? Does the website producer stand to benefit from the information being provided?
 * If the organization sponsoring the website is recognized as an authority, that recognition lends credibility to the information they publish on the Web. For example: CNN.com. Compare Globalwarming.org with @http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/global_warming_worldbook.html
 * Is the site employing pseudoscience - using scientific-sounding references or data to justify a position

Examples illustrating objectivity:
 * Cancer information at the National Cancer Institute (balanced)
 * Institute for Historical Review (biased; hate site)
 * Not Just Another Scare (biased; undocumented claims)

Is the information accurate?
 * Is the information documented, either directly or indirectly?
 * Look for a works cited, bibliography, or references list
 * Can the information be corroborated? In other words, can you confirm the information in another source?
 * Why verification is important: Johns Hopkins Tragedy: Could Librarians Have Prevented a Death?

What is it's purpose: Persuade? Inform/Educate? Entertain? Sell?
 * PURPOSE **

Blended Examples:
 * An organizational site may support a point of view and also educate the public about matters related to a particular issue. Example: AARP.org
 * A commercial Web site may also provide unbiased information or news. Example: CNN

The page created/last updated statement should indicate that content is current and appropriately up-to-date:
 * CURRENCY **
 * Medical or computer software information that is several years old may be suspect.
 * Information about classical Greek theater that is five years old may be very accurate.


 * Activity 1: Determining Credibility**


 * Usability.gov ([|http://www.usability.gov])
 * Romantic Circles ([|http://www.rc.umd.edu])
 * Pharyngula ([])
 * [|Quackwatch] ([])
 * NewsBusters ([])
 * Daily Kos ([])
 * Bits ([])
 * Everything2 ([])
 * H2G2 ([])
 * Encyclopedia Mythica ([])
 * Anne’s Anti-Quackery and Science Blog ([])
 * Alternative Science ([])

Analyze the website address Determine who is the author. Who is responsible for the site? Is the author credible? - What is his/her education level? - What is his/her work experience? - How much does he/she know about the topic - Does the author have a neutral perspective?

>> >> > **IMPORTANT:** Follow the links before answering the questions. Take your time!
 * Activity 2: Determining Authority**
 * 1) **Fair Cell Phone Use in Schools**
 * Who is the author of this article and what are her credentials?
 * How do people get articles published on this site?
 * Under what circumstances would you use this article? Under what circumstances do you think it would be better to use another source (like a database)?
 * 1) **Chocolate at Heart: The Anti-Inflammatory Impact of Cocoa Flavanols**
 * Whose site is this? What is the mission of the organization?
 * Do you think this site is an authoritative source of information on the nutritional value of chocolate?
 * 1) ****The Institute for Historical Review****
 * What is the purpose of this site?
 * What clues might make you think **it is** an authoritative source of information?
 * What clues might make you think **it is not** an authoritative source of information?
 * What is your conclusion? Is the site an authoritative source or not?
 * 1) ****Dream Technologies International****
 * What is the purpose of this website?
 * What are some of the features that make this site so effective?

//Created by Francis Jacobson Harris//

http://middleagesevaluation.wikispaces.com/
 * Activity 3: Evaluate websites based on URL**

Activity 4: Bad Apple & Use it or Lose it

Gallery of Hoax Websites