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The Real Deal

The Real Deal. Can you trust what you read? Dr. Judith Aulik Naperville Public Library October 30, 2013. Signs of web site quality. . edu domain …but, students and alumni can maintain server space Updated with research in the field . gov or .mil domains

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The Real Deal

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  1. The Real Deal Can you trust what you read? Dr. Judith Aulik Naperville Public Library October 30, 2013

  2. Signs of web site quality • .edu domain • …but, students and alumni can maintain server space • Updated with research in the field • .gov or .mil domains • .org is no longer a restricted domain: be careful! • State, foreign or provincial governmental sites.

  3. Other signs of authority • Well-known organizations (American Dietetics Association, American Chemical Society) host. Corporations are experts on their own (and competitors’) products. • HON code seal for medical sites • Quality writing (grammar, spelling, and style) • Clear, appropriate graphics

  4. Judging the responsible body • Check for bias: who funds them? • Is the name descriptive? • Institute of Food Technologists (clear) • Heartland Institute (not clear) • Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC) (vague—which science?) • Are their publications peer reviewed (if appropriate)?

  5. Checking up on citations • Are sources cited? • Are citations beyond in-line/parenthetical? • Do print sources really exist? • “Housekeeping Monthly” hoax across web • Do hyperlinks of citations still work? • If not, does the information reside at a different URL or subsite? • Has the webmaster been forced to change servers/URLs?

  6. Authoritative books • What are the author’s qualifications? • How many books has the author written? • Which university was attended? • What are the author’s degree(s) and major? • Beware unfamiliar degrees like N.D. or D.C. • Beware unaccredited colleges. • Is the degree related to the topic? • Any current faculty status? • Is the university program accredited and well-regarded?

  7. Authoritative books • How many libraries own the title? • Use WorldCat for a rough idea. • Most libraries do not buy self-published titles in the STEM subjects or in medicine. • Are there citations, footnotes, or a bibliography/works cited section? • Is the publisher well-known? • Are there new(er) editions?

  8. Authoritative periodicals • Library databases generally select articles from quality publications. • Journal vs. magazine • Peer or editorial review • Pay to publish? • Some newer or online only journals charge high fees to publish articles to inflate CVs. • Check author and institution as above.

  9. Authoritative periodicals • Check unfamiliar journal titles with WorldCat to determine which (college) libraries subscribe. • Alternative: check Library catalogs at universities with strong science and engineering programs for holdings. UI-Champaign-Urbana and UW-Madison are good choices.

  10. Authoritative periodicals • Exclusion of a journal from a database is not necessarily a negative sign. • Elsevier and similar publishers’ electronic rights are extremely expensive. • Many publications on obscure topics may not be included in public library databases • Check for political bias, such as climate change denial, or negative studies on “hot button” medical topics.

  11. Authoritative periodicals • Good journals will retract articles which show fraud or manipulation. Magazines will often have errata or corrections in the next issue. • Check databases to see if this has been made. • Check Letters to the Editor section for discussion of a controversial article.

  12. Conclusions • Always check authors’ credentials, whether for a website, article, or book. • For unusual findings, check for subsequent revisions or retractions. • When possible, seek out the newest edition of books.

  13. Conclusions • Red flags in science include: • Findings which deviate greatly from common belief; • Citations to extremely old works; • Names which closely resemble that of a well-known organization; • Double-check when you have doubts.

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