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?