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3. Is the Information on the Web Page Objective? |
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| 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
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Writers create web pages for
different reasons. They may want to share discoveries, support a
political candidate, sell a product, or gather support for an
issue. The information that we read on the WWW is always colored
by the writer's motivation. We must be aware of this as we
read and look for clues to that motivation. . Below are some suggestions about questioning
the objectivity of WWW sources:
To see examples and learn more follow the above links. Case Study: Androstenedione
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All web pages contain a Top Domain. This means that they are grouped by .com, .net, .edu, .gov, .org, .mil or .country. Knowing a little about the top domains may help decide the purpose of the page. At one time top domain guaranteed that a web site belonged to a specific group. Recently the meaning a each top domain has been weakened by misuse. Be aware that the top domains are a subdivision of US web sites. the top domain .us is not normally used. On the other hand non-US countries use country codes which is also useful in checking the source of the information
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In researching certain topics it is very important to eliminate or be suspicious about people who sell the product(.com)/or . Researching "andro" would be such a topic. In another part of this lesson information was provided on how to remove .com from a search. Click here to review
A good search on "andro" should be limited to .gov .edu or .org
Check these 2 sites. Compare their top domains and the information at
both sites
Example
#1
Example
#2 Answer
Do organizations which provide information have a clearly stated bias or viewpoint?
Many .org web sites exist to support a cause. Dot org web sites might be pro-abortion, anti-abortion, pro-Bush, anti-handgun etc. In judging information from .org sites its important to know their point of view or bias. Below are 2 web pages from organizations. Check each to find their point of view or bias that they bring to the topic
What types of web pages link to the web page that I'm reading ?
"You can't tell a book by its cover"
"Guilt by association"
"You can judge a person by the friends they keep"
All of these phrases carry a mixture of fact and fiction. Can you
judge a web page by who links to it? Yes and No. It worth
looking at if you question the information
For example if web sites supporting white supremacy, nazism, and race war link to a web site that about "human rights" then that web site may appeal to this extreme viewpoint and the information may be slanted this way
AltaVista can help us find "who a websites friends are" or who links to it. To learn learn this type the following into AltaVista
link:www.what_ever.com (no spaces)
The results will show which sites link to "what_ever.com" Read through the list of hits to see if you can learn anything.
Check these 2 website on andro
Example#5 which is from a university web site
oldblue.umeche.maine.edu/
Example #6 which is from a store that sells andro
www.21centurysports.com/
Use the Altavista Search Box below and type in
link:oldblue.umeche.maine.edu/
and
link:www.21centurysports.com/
Compare who links to each Answer
Are the listing of links from the page that I'm reading complete and are they reviewed?
A final way to look at objectivity is to look at the links that the author provides outside his or her web site
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Are all links internal? Inward looking websites may signal lack of interest in outside ideas
Example:
www,what_ever.com/index.htm
www.what_ever.com/products.htm
www.what_ever.com/research.htm
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Are links balanced in trying to provide information from different points of view
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Has the author written description about the links; this may indicate that the read the information that they are directing you to
Next
Page created by J. O'Donnell, Tech Mentor, Andrew HS, Tinley Park IL last updated on 03/01/00