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Association for Childhood Education International
2008 World Conference
Internet Source Credibility:Potentials and Perils
Dr. Larry L. Burriss, Ph.D., J.D.
School of Journalism
Middle Tennessee State University
http://mtsu.edu/~lburriss
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The Expert
1. More than 25 miles from home
2. Uses audio-visuals
3. Has no responsibility to implement suggestions
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Using Your Refrigerator
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Why Do I Want This Information?
Self
Others
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Internet Information Basics
Who, What When, Where, Why, How
Some Internet Basics
Formulating a Strategy
Basic Resources
Evaluating Internet Resources
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Who, What When, Where, Why, How
Where does information come from . . .
. . . and how do you get it?
The Internet is a source of information
Don’t forget the basics of journalism
Check it out
Two source rule
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Some Internet Basics
EDU COM
ISPHOMEEverything is linked to everything else
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Search Engines
yahoo.com
google.com
dogpile.com
search.com
metacrawler.com
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Search Engines
AltaVista Excite Fast Search
Google HotBot Lycos Northern Light
Aberystwyth 73,795 20,320 70,468 158,000 36,100 37,439 61,138
Chrodegang 422 90 356 255 98 232 201
“alvin toffler” 6,810 635 12,667 12,500 10,600 9,849 9,628
“sidereal messenger” 247 246 383 312 157 257 256
”red wine” AND cancer AND resveratrol
428 353 1,021 968 1,100 616 766
crumpton AND maryland AND auction
27 26 53 45 40 52 86
(trilobite OR trilobites) AND morphology
802 639 1,262 0 1,200 0 1,170
Hock, Randolph. The Extreme Searcher’s Guide to Web Search Engines, 2d, (2001) p. 30
8,400,000
40,100
1,300,000
20,300
474,000
15,500
125,000
5,300,000
24,400
495,000
11,500
746
199,000
46,600
Burriss, Larry. 6 June 2008
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Search Engines
Roll the dice often; the road to success is rarely a single pass, and you can’t tie your hopes to one source.
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Boolean Logic . . . And, Or, Not
Or - Includes
And - Excludes
Not - Really Excludes
When in doubt, read the instructions
We have met the enemy,and he is us
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xxx site:edu filetype:(pdf OR ppt)
A Sample Search
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The Best of Times; The Worst of Times
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Formulating a Strategy:Is Your Topic Even on the Internet?
The Internet is good for information aboutComputersNatural SciencesGovernment InformationProduct/Business InformationPopular Culture
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Formulating a Strategy:Is Your Topic Even on the Internet?
But NOT so good for information about
Humanities
Social Sciences
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Formulating a Strategy:How Current Are Your Needs?
Expect to find mostly current information
But, how often is the information updated?
Expect to find some older material (75 years or more)
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Evaluating Internet Resources
What kind of organization produced the info?
academic site: .edu
commercial site: .com
government site: .gov
military site: .mil
non-profit site: .org
network service provider: .net
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Evaluating Internet Resources
Who actually produced the info?
< ~name > is usually someone’s name
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Evaluating Internet Resources
Is the source listed anywhere?
What are the source’s credentials?
Is there a bias or commercial interest?
Who is the intended audience?
How current is the information?
References, citations, links?
Questions to ask
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"Who Said That?" Guidelines for Evaluating Sources
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"Who Said That?" Guidelines for Evaluating Sources
* How does this source know what he/she knows? Can I prove the sources' information through government records or other documents? How can I confirm this information through further reporting or other sources?
By Bob Steele and Al Tompkins, The Poynter Institute
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"Who Said That?" Guidelines for Evaluating Sources
* Are there underlying assumptions that my source depends on which I should question?
* How representative is my source's point of view? Who else knows what my source knows?
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"Who Said That?" Guidelines for Evaluating Sources
* What is the past reliability and reputation of this source?
* What is the source's motive for providing the information? What does this source have to gain or lose? Will this information make the source look better, worse, guilty or innocent?
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"Who Said That?" Guidelines for Evaluating Sources
* What is my relationship with the source? * Why am I using this particular source? How often do others or I use this source?
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"Who Said That?" Guidelines for Evaluating Sources
* Where can I find an independent person who has the expertise on the subject of this story and can help me verify/interpret/challenge the information my source has given me?
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For More Information
Badke, William. Research Strategies : Finding Your Way Through the Information Fog
Basch, Reva. Researching Online for DummiesBass, Frank. The Associated Press Guide to Internet
Research and ReportingHock, Randolph. The Extreme Searcher's Guide to
Web Search EnginesSchlein, Alan M. Find It Online: The Complete Guide to
Online ResearchSherman, Chris. The Invisible Web: Uncovering
Information Sources Search Engines Can't See
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A Little Common Sense . . . . . . Goes A Long Way
CNN Disney State Governments
CTW
National Geographic A&EMSNBC CBSEverything in the Federal Government
PBS
Internet Source Credibility:Potentials and Perils
Dr. Larry L. Burriss, Ph.D., J.D.
School of Journalism
Middle Tennessee State University
http://mtsu.edu/~lburriss
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