6.4: Evaluate websites located in a complex search

Table of Contents

1. Evaluating websites
   1. Evaluation criteria
   2. Authority
   3. Tracing website ownership
   4. Credibility
   5. Evaluating credibility
   6. Accuracy
   7. Bias
   8. Emphasis
   9. Currency
   10. Establishing currency
   11. Currency indicators
   12. Problems in establishing currency
   13. Previous versions of a Website
   14. Clarity of presentation
   15. Presenting information clearly
   16. Use of multimedia
   17. Ease of use for visually impaired clients

Use of multimedia

The appropriate use of multimedia can enhance understanding and indeed provide additional information. However, some sites include multimedia such as Flash introductions, which at best are annoying and at worst put off the client due to the delays caused. If the connection to the Internet is not fast broadband, then the delays can be intolerable.

Some sites offer the option of a Flash and non-Flash version. Look at http://www.blackburn.ac.uk/ and compare the operation of both versions. Which do you prefer?

For some searches, information in multi-media format is useful or even essential. You can make this one of your selection criteria. Often just typing video as one of your search terms will lead to sites which have video clips (It can, of course, also lead to sites which are selling videos). We tried jfk, assassination, and video which led amongst others to

http://www.courttv.com/onair/shows/kennedy/vintage_video.html where video clips can be played.

If sound files or sound tracks of movie clips are used, these may require loudspeakers to be available or, more likely in libraries, headsets to be used. Clearly sites where essential information is presented audibly are not appropriate for the hearing impaired.

Let's take a look at Ease of use for visually impaired clients ...