1. Who is the Author of the Web Page?
Verifying WWW
Information
---Author 
 Case Study:Pesticides
---Accuracy
Case Study:AIDS
---Objectivity
Case Study:"andro"
---Currency
---Case Study:Population
Exercise
---Bill Clinton
---Cell Phones
---Maps
---Smoking
Checklist
---summary printout

 

 The WWW  presents us with unfiltered information.  Each time we access a page we must look for clues to help us decide how to judge the value  of what we read.  Answering questions about the author will help us decide the value of the information 
  1. Who is the author?
  2. What are their qualifications of the author?
  3. Does the author appear to be a part of an organization?
  4. Is the author the creator of the information?
  5. Can the author be reached for questions or comments?

To see examples and learn more follow the above links. 

Case Study 1: Pesticides

Who is the author?

If you walked into a classroom and the teacher refused to give you his name, would you question what is going on?

Does the person writing about pesticides really know  the subject? Start by looking for the person's name and who they work for. Many web pages identify the author in one of 2 places: near top or at the bottom. A name at the bottom of the page though may be the name of the webmaster who wrote the page but not responsible for the actual ideas on the page 

Where are the following authors found on the page? 

Example #1  Example #2  Example #3  Answer

top

What are the qualifications of the author

Would you believe information on pesticides gathered from another student's web page?

Rarely do web authors give their qualifications.  Unlike books whose jacket cover often contains information about the author, web pages do not always provide this information.  An author adds weight to his information by giving his qualifications (see bottom of article)

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Does the author appear to be a part of an organization?

Although the author may not be identified a web page may identify a group that the author is writing for.  Is the group qualified to act as an expert on a topic?

Look at these web pages.  Both are sponsored by a group and both deal with pesticides.  Identify each group.  Does one group seem better qualified? 

Example #4           Example #5       Answer

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Is the author the creator of the information?


Much of what we learn off and on the web is information that is passed down from one person to another.  As the process takes place there is always a possibility that information may get colored and distorted.  Information that comes from the creator of the information are called Primary Sources.  Information that is summarized from various primary and other sources are called Secondary Sources

Look at these 2 web pages on pesticides and determine which is primary and which is secondary

Example # 6          Example # 7         Answer

Can the author be reached for questions and comments?

Individuals and organizations which offer well organized web pages which direct readers to their own resources demonstrate a level of knowledge and commitment to their area  Check the next two web sites to find how each helps you contact their members for help

Example #8 click on James Barnhill's name
Example # 9 Check how the National Institute of Health provides ways of making contact on the issue of pesticides

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Page created by J. O'Donnell, Tech Mentor, Andrew HS, Tinley Park IL last updated on 03/23/00

 

 

 

 

Where are the following authors found on the page 

Example #1  top of the page

Example #2  no author given; webmaster's name is at the bottom

Example #3 bottom of page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify each group.  Does one group seem better qualified?

Example 4 is the American Association of Pesticide Educators
Example 5 is the Pesticide Trust
Both may be good sources of information but the first gives more information about the professional organized nature of their group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

which is primary and which is secondary

#6 is a primary source; The web site gives detailed information that was discovered by the author who is the federal Environmental Protection Agency

#7 is secondary; The web page is news article in a California newspaper about pesticides.; The writer communicates information uncovered by others

Note Secondary source are not necessarily poor sources of information.; They require more effort to verify