INFO 310 - L09 - April 27, 2004 - Web Site Evaluation & Research Models in HIB Notes By: Egaas, Fortier, Prins Mid-Course Evaluations **Web Site Evaluations** Example Web site Evaluation Project > User Group - Runner with Exercise Induced Asthma > Finding a web site that's available for your user group > Investigation of the information behavior of your target user group > Evaluation of the site - Quality - Ability to help the specific user group - Suggestions for improvement Five Criteria for Web Evaluation 1. Accuracy - Who wrote the page and can you contact them? - What is the purpose of the document? - Is the author qualified? 2. Authority - Who published the document? Is the publisher different from the Webmaster? - What domain does the site reside on? What institution published the document? - Does the publisher list his or her qualifications? 3. Objectivity - What goals / objectives does this page meet? - How detailed is the information? - What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author? 4. Currency - When was the site produced? - What was it updated? - How up to date are the links? 5. Coverage - Are there links evaluated and do they complement the documents' theme? - Is it all images or a balance of text and images? - Is the information presented cited correctly? **Research Methods in HIB** Common Methods > Experiments > Surveys - Questionnaires - Interviews > Observation Experiments > Experiment = A study in which the researcher creates at least one artificial condition, usually in the are in which he or she is interest in studying. > This is opposite of a naturalistic study = A study in which no artificial conditions are created Survey > Survey = The collection of information from a sample of individuals through their responses to questions > Types of questions: - Closed - Open Survey Instruments > Questionnaire: The survey instrument containing the questions is a self-administered survey. > Interview Schedule: The survey instrument containing the questions is asked by the interviewer in an in-person or phone survey. Observation > Observation = the researcher ’Äúwitnesses’Äù the phenomenon of study as it occurs via the use of the five human senses > Also called: field observation Level of Participation > Complete observer: No participation at all (can be obtrusive or unobtrusive) > Participant observer: Observation and interaction when the participants know the dual purpose of the researcher (obtrusive) > Covert participant: Observation and interaction when the participants do not know the dual purpose of the researcher (unobtrusive)