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Understand the diversity of online information sources, how to screen them for reliability, and evaluate their quality using tools like CARS checklist. Learn to assess credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, and support to make informed decisions in your career management research.
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Evaluating Internet Research Sources Career Management 2.50 Coach Cullen’s Class
The Diversity of Information • Information is a commodity available in may flavors • Like a magazine selection at the book store… • Information exists on a continuum of reliability and quality • In large quantities • In a variety of kinds • Facts • Opinions • Stories • Interpretations • Statistics
Screening Information • Pre-evaluation • Ask yourself what your looking for: Facts, Figures, Opinions… • What is the purpose of your research: New ideas, Support a position, prove a theory • Select sources likely to be reliable • This will take time • Ask the question before starting your research; “What source or what kind of source would be the most credible?” • Which sources would be fair? Objective? Lacking hidden motive?
Availability of Information • How many search engines like yahoo, google, or bing are there on the internet? • Open your web browser… • Open Google • Search “LIST OF SEARCH ENGINES” • How many did you find? • Are there any surprises?
The Tests of Information Quality • Reliable information is power. • “Knowledge is Power!” but only if the information is reliable • Information serves as the basis for: • Beliefs • Decisions • Choices • Understanding the world • Source evaluation is an Art and a Science: • There is no single predictor of reliability, truthfulness, or value • You must make an inference from multiple sources of data
The CARS Checklist for Information Quality • The CARS Checklist is design for ease of learning and use • Credibility • Accuracy • Reasonableness • Support
CARS: Credibility • Evidence of authenticity and reliability or Credibility, Believability have always been important. There are several test you can apply: • Author’s Credentials • Evidence of Control • Meta-Information • Indicators of LACK of Credibility: • Anonymity • Lack of control • Negative Meta-information
CARS: Accuracy • To assure that the information is actually correct • Up to date • Factual • Detailed • Exact • Comprehensive • Timeliness • Be careful of websites with automatically updating dates
CARS: Reasonableness • Fairness • Objectivity • Moderateness • Consistency • World View • Indicators of Lack of Reasonableness • Intemperate Tone of the writing • Overclaims/Sweeping Statements • Conflict of Interest
CARS: Support • Source of documentation or Bibliography • Corroboration • External Consistency • Indicators of Lack of Support • Numbers without sources • No other sources present the same information
The CAFÉ` Advice Challenge Adapt File Evaluate
Information Source Robert Harris: Evaluating Internet Research Sources, June 2007 World Wide Web Research Tools Internet Search Tips http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm