Assessing the quality of information

"Excellent, very knowledgeable speaker"

"Well presented course"

"Educational and relaxed at the same time"

introduction:

Anyone and everyone can publish on the Web. Not all, though, are qualified or knowledgeable in their chosen subject and some even publish deliberately misleading information. Separating fact from fiction, and scrutinising the credentials of an author on the Net are now an essential part of any research, especially as the new Web 2.0 technologies make it so easy to perpetuate errors and display information out of context.

This course provides a step by step guide to assessing and evaluating the quality of information. All types of media will be covered but the emphasis will be on electronic resources. The techniques are applicable to all sectors and types of organisations and all levels of expertise.

outcomes:

• a checklist of criteria for assessing resources
• know the tips and tricks for finding "hidden" information about a Web page
• be able to identify scams and hoaxes
• understand the impact of Web 2.0 technologies on quality
• top 5 criteria for assessment to share with colleagues and users

programme:

• general criteria for assessing quality
• analysing a web page - who is behind a web page, when was it last updated, credibility and authority
• identifying Web 2.0 sites, how they work and their impact on quality
• checklists for different types of resources e.g. news, company financials, market research
• strategies for comparing/assessing content aggregators/hosts
• how to use hoaxbuster and "Urban legend" sites
• documenting your research

speaker:

Karen Blakeman , Information Consultant

teaching style:

Course, group work, hands on

who should attend?

This course is for anyone who uses print, priced databases, and free Web resources for research.

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