Fricke M, Fallis D "Indicators of accuracy for answers to ready reference questions on the internet" Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 55(3):238-245 February 1 2004

[Eugene Garfield]

Martin Fricke : mfricke at u.arizona.edu
Don  Fallis   : fallis at email.arizona.edu

TITLE    Indicators of accuracy for answers to ready reference questions
         on the Internet
AUTHOR   Fricke M, Fallis D
JOURNAL  JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND
         TECHNOLOGY 55 (3): 238-245 FEB 1 2004

Document type: Article     Language: English     Cited References: 34
Times Cited: 0      Explanation

Abstract:
The Internet is increasingly being used as a source of reference
information. Internet users need to be able to distinguish accurate
information from inaccurate information. Toward this end, information
professionals have published checklists for evaluating information.
However, such checklists can be effective only if the proposed indicators
of accuracy really do indicate accuracy. This study implements a technique
for testing such indicators of accuracy and uses it to test indicators of
accuracy for answers to ready reference questions. Many of the commonly
proposed indicators of accuracy (e.g., that the Web site does not contain
advertising) were not found to be correlated with accuracy. However, the
link structure of the Internet can be used to identify Web sites that are
more likely to contain accurate reference information.

KeyWords Plus:
WORLD-WIDE-WEB, HEALTH INFORMATION, MANAGING FEVER, SEARCH ENGINE, QUALITY,
CHILDREN, HOME

Addresses:
Fricke M, Univ Arizona, Sch Informat Resources & Lib Sci, 1515 E 1st St,
Tucson, AZ 85719 USA
Univ Arizona, Sch Informat Resources & Lib Sci, Tucson, AZ 85719 USA

Publisher:
JOHN WILEY & SONS INC, 111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN, NJ 07030 USA

IDS Number:
761WL

ISSN:
1532-2882

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