ITIS 1210 ITIS 1210 Introduction to Web- Introduction to Web- Based Information Based Information Systems Systems Internet Research Three Internet Research Three Browsing Subject Guides Browsing Subject Guides
Dec 18, 2015
ITIS 1210ITIS 1210Introduction to Web-Based Introduction to Web-Based
Information SystemsInformation Systems
Internet Research ThreeInternet Research ThreeBrowsing Subject GuidesBrowsing Subject Guides
IntroductionIntroduction
Subject guidesSubject guides aka subject directories, Internet directories, aka subject directories, Internet directories,
subject treessubject trees Subject guidesSubject guides
Help focus searchesHelp focus searches Useful if your knowledge of the subject is too Useful if your knowledge of the subject is too
limited to judge the results you get from limited to judge the results you get from regular search enginesregular search engines
Group information by topicGroup information by topic Lets you see both breadth and depthLets you see both breadth and depth
IntroductionIntroduction
Browse by “drilling down”Browse by “drilling down” Navigate through hierarchical subject Navigate through hierarchical subject
headingsheadings Upper levels are generalUpper levels are general Lower levels more and more specificLower levels more and more specific
Some permit keyword searches alsoSome permit keyword searches also
Understanding Subject GuidesUnderstanding Subject Guides
Data typically compiled and arranged by Data typically compiled and arranged by expertsexperts Offers greater selectivity and quality of dataOffers greater selectivity and quality of data But less coverage than regular search But less coverage than regular search
enginesengines
Emphasis on quality not quantityEmphasis on quality not quantity Links may be annotated with useful Links may be annotated with useful
informationinformation
Understanding Subject GuidesUnderstanding Subject Guides
Subject guide resource:Subject guide resource:
http://www.lib.lsu.edu/weblio.htmlhttp://www.lib.lsu.edu/weblio.html
Librarians’ Index to the Internet: www.lii.orgLibrarians’ Index to the Internet: www.lii.org Click a bold topic to see a list of sub-topicsClick a bold topic to see a list of sub-topics Click a non-bold topic to see a list of Web pages Click a non-bold topic to see a list of Web pages
about that topicabout that topic
Understanding Subject GuidesUnderstanding Subject Guides
SearchableSearchable UC BerkeleyUC Berkeley
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/SubjDirectories.htmlSubjDirectories.html
infomine.ucr.eduinfomine.ucr.edu
AnnotationsAnnotations Summaries or reviews of Web page contentSummaries or reviews of Web page content Usually written by a subject guide contributorsUsually written by a subject guide contributors
Typically an expert in the fieldTypically an expert in the field http://www.lii.org/pub/topic/webdesignhttp://www.lii.org/pub/topic/webdesign
Understanding Subject GuidesUnderstanding Subject Guides
Distributed subject guidesDistributed subject guides WWW Virtual Library - http://vlib.org/WWW Virtual Library - http://vlib.org/ Open Directory Project - http://dmoz.org/Open Directory Project - http://dmoz.org/
Created by contributors working Created by contributors working independentlyindependently
Each group/person responsible for a Each group/person responsible for a subtopicsubtopic
Understanding Subject GuidesUnderstanding Subject Guides
Not stored on one computerNot stored on one computer Distributed to different computers around the Distributed to different computers around the
WebWeb Many independent contributors haveMany independent contributors have
Different levels of expertiseDifferent levels of expertise Varying resourcesVarying resources
May make distributed subject guides of May make distributed subject guides of uneven quality and show lack of uneven quality and show lack of standardizationstandardization
Understanding Subject GuidesUnderstanding Subject Guides
Maintenance by expertsMaintenance by experts Balances problems with qualityBalances problems with quality They know best what’s available on the WebThey know best what’s available on the Web
Topics may be organized differently Topics may be organized differently between different guidesbetween different guides ““energy” under “Science” in one, under energy” under “Science” in one, under
“Engineering” in another“Engineering” in another
Understanding Subject GuidesUnderstanding Subject Guides
Searchable subject guides typically search Searchable subject guides typically search only their own dataonly their own data
Understanding Subject GuidesUnderstanding Subject Guides
Trailblazer pagesTrailblazer pages Created by scholars and expertsCreated by scholars and experts Trying to organize and link to the best Web Trying to organize and link to the best Web
sites in their fieldsites in their field
Excellent source for reliable informationExcellent source for reliable information May be broad or narrow in scopeMay be broad or narrow in scope
All trying to cover their topic wellAll trying to cover their topic well
Understanding Subject GuidesUnderstanding Subject Guides
Usually providesUsually provides Links to useful sitesLinks to useful sites Logical way of navigating subjectLogical way of navigating subject
May provideMay provide Search capabilitySearch capability Site mapSite map
Example: EEREExample: EERE
Understanding Subject GuidesUnderstanding Subject Guides
Trailblazer pagesTrailblazer pages Example: http://www.eere.energy.gov/Example: http://www.eere.energy.gov/
Specialized Search EnginesSpecialized Search Engines
Specialized search enginesSpecialized search engines Best features of regular search enginesBest features of regular search engines Subject guidesSubject guides
Limit the Web pages they search forLimit the Web pages they search for Available forAvailable for
LawLaw MedicineMedicine TechnologyTechnology
Specialized Search EnginesSpecialized Search Engines
Where do you find specialized search Where do you find specialized search engines?engines? http://webquest.sdsu.edu/searching/specialized.htmlhttp://webquest.sdsu.edu/searching/specialized.html
Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria
Standards to determine if a Web page is Standards to determine if a Web page is appropriate for your needsappropriate for your needs
How does Web information get to you?How does Web information get to you? Directly from authorDirectly from author Via an editorial processVia an editorial process
Online journalsOnline journals
RecommendedRecommended Search engineSearch engine
Appropriate
Authority
Organization
ScopeCurrency
Objectivity & Accuracy
Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria
Authority (credibility/reliability)Authority (credibility/reliability) Is the author identified?Is the author identified? Are their qualifications identified?Are their qualifications identified? Are resources documented?Are resources documented? Is there contact information for the author(s)?Is there contact information for the author(s)? Is the author associated withIs the author associated with
UniversityUniversity OrganizationOrganization Government agencyGovernment agency
Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria
Organization (appearance vs. content)Organization (appearance vs. content) Is site well designed, functional?Is site well designed, functional? Easy to navigate?Easy to navigate? Searchable?Searchable? Site map or Help page?Site map or Help page?
Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria
Scope (range of topics)Scope (range of topics) Who is the intended audience?Who is the intended audience?
Students, professionals, amateurs?Students, professionals, amateurs?
Introduction explaining purpose of site?Introduction explaining purpose of site? Is scope appropriate for your needs?Is scope appropriate for your needs?
Too broadToo broad Too narrowToo narrow
Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria
Currency (timeliness)Currency (timeliness) Creation/revision date?Creation/revision date? Broken linksBroken links
Not being maintainedNot being maintained
Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria
Objectivity & accuracyObjectivity & accuracy Advocacy is OK if revealedAdvocacy is OK if revealed Does author state purpose of site?Does author state purpose of site? Content presented as fact or opinion?Content presented as fact or opinion? Are resources well documented?Are resources well documented? Host of site identified?Host of site identified? What do other sites say about this site or its What do other sites say about this site or its
author?author?