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 … All About Ongoing
Critical Concern
AAOCC …
Accuracy
Authority
Objectivity
Currency
Coverage
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Is the information on the page outdated?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
 has
accurate information
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 …
AAOCC
It’s All About Ongoing
Critical Concern.
M. Rosettis ~ 2001
Do these websites A A O C C?
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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?

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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 …
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A good resource does not hide its identity
from the user.
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Good luck with your research!