Web Wisdom ─ How to Evaluate and Create Information Quality on the Web

Mobile technologies, faster connection speeds, and the 24/7 connectivity that has lead to the development of social media have created an explosion of Internet use in the ten years since the initial publication of Web Wisdom: How To Evaluate and Create Information Quality on the Web. A decade ago, these technologies and activities did not exist or were the purview of small select groups of internet users. Despite dramatic changes in the online realm, the basic evaluation principles presented in the first edition remain as applicable today as they were in the 1990s. Keeping up with the advances required to navigate the web for research, this second edition provides:



Expanded discussion of copyright, trademark, and other related issues with specific reference to web authoring
New chapters on user-generated content and the challenges present by web resources
Expanded discussion on issues related to incorporation of multimedia elements into web pages
Revised and updated web page screen captures that illustrate the major concepts discussed
A companion web site with supplemental materials related to the evaluation and creation of web content


Many people mistakenly assume that as online technologies mature and the use of Internet-based content becomes ubiquitous, the need to emphasize critical evaluation skills lessens. On the contrary, the phenomenal global growth of the internet coupled with the ever increasing sophistication of online technologies and software applications requires individuals to be even savvier web users. This book describes the basic elements that web resource users, new or experienced, need to address to identify reliable and practical online content. The book also provides important guidance for creators of Web-based resources to more effectively convey their messages to web users. Presented in a straightforward and highly accessible format for readers of all backgrounds, the tools and strategies outlined in this book will help users and creators of Internet–based content to meet the diverse evaluation challenges posed by the web.

Web Wisdom: Introduction and Overview
Introduction
The Need for Web-Specific Evaluation Criteria
What This Book Includes
A Note about Design Issues
How to Use This Book
Two Important Caveats
Definitions of Key Terms
Information Quality Criteria for Web Resources
Introduction
A Comparison between Two Web Pages Presenting Information
Five Traditional Evaluation Criteria and Their Application to Web Resources
Conclusion
Additional Challenges Presented by Web Resources
Introduction
The Use of Hypertext Links
The Use of Frames
Dynamic Web Content
Software Requirements and Other Factors that Limit Access to Information
Pages Retrieved Out of Context by Search Engines
The Susceptibility of Web Pages to Alteration
The Redirection of URLs to Different Web Sites and Other Malicious Activities
The Instability of Web Pages
Conclusion
Weblogs and Wikis: Social Media Content
Introduction
Social Media: An Overview
Weblogs (Blogs)
Wikis
Evaluation Challenges Presented by Social Media Content
Conclusion
Advertising and Sponsorship on the Web
Advertising, Sponsorship, and Information on the Web
Defining Advertising and Sponsorship
Distinguishing between Advertising, Sponsorship, and Information on the Web
Sorting Out the Relationship between Advertisers, Sponsors, and Information
Strategies for Analyzing Web Information Provided by Sites that Have Advertisers or Sponsors
Conclusion
Applying Basic Evaluation Criteria to a Web Page
How to Use Chapters 6 through 12
Incorporation of the Basic Elements into Web Pages
Interaction and Transaction Features
An Introduction to Navigational and Nontext Features
Information on the Six Types of Web Pages The Checklist of Basic Elements: Keys to Evaluating or Creating Web Pages
Keys to Information Quality in Advocacy Web Pages
Keys to Recognizing an Advocacy Web Page
Analysis of Advocacy Web Pages
The Advocacy Checklist: Keys to Evaluating and Creating Advocacy Web Pages
Keys to Information Quality in Business Web Pages
Keys to Recognizing a Business Web Page
Analysis of Business Web Pages
The Business Web Page Checklist: Keys to Evaluating and Creating Business Web Pages
Keys to Information Quality in Informational Web Pages
Keys to Recognizing an Informational Web Page
Analysis of Informational Web Pages
The Informational Web Page Checklist: Keys to Evaluating and Creating Informational Web Pages
Keys to Information Quality in News Web Pages
Keys to Recognizing A News Web Page
Analysis of News Web Pages
The News Web Page Checklist: Keys to Evaluating and Creating News Web Pages
Keys to Information Quality in Personal Web Pages
Keys to Recognizing a Personal Web Page
Analysis of a Personal Web Page
Keys to Information Quality in Entertainment Web Pages
Keys to Recognizing an Entertainment Web Page
Analysis of an Entertainment Web Page
Entertainment Web Page Creation Issues
Creating Effective Web Pages and Sites
Introduction
The Navigational Aids Checklist
The Nontext Features Checklist
The Interaction and Transaction Features Checklist
The Web Site Functionality Checklist
Meta Tags
Copyright and Disclaimers
References
Bibliography
Appendix A: Checklist Compilation
Appendix B: Information Quality Questions Compilation
Appendix C: Glossary