Evaluating Information Found Online: Seven Questions to Ask

 

Image Credit: Microsoft Stock Images

As you search online, you will likely find websites for many agencies and organizations that could be more well-known. By answering the following questions, you should be able to evaluate the quality of the posted information. Many of these details may be under the website heading “About Us” or “Contact Us.” Below are questions that you should ask yourself when evaluating online information.
 

1. Who sponsors the website?

Can you quickly identify the sponsor? Websites cost money—is the funding source readily apparent?

 

2. Is it obvious how you can reach the sponsor?

Trustworthy websites will have contact information for you to use. They may have a toll-free telephone number. The website home page should list an e-mail address, phone number, or mailing address where the sponsor and/or the authors of the information can be reached.

 

3. What type of website is it?

Sometimes, the website address itself may help—for example:

• .gov identifies a government agency.
• .edu identifies an educational institution.
• .org identifies professional organizations (e.g., scientific or research societies, advocacy groups).
• .com identifies commercial websites.

 

4. Who wrote the information?

Authors and contributors should be identified. Their affiliation and any financial interest in the content should also be clear. Be careful about testimonials. Personal stories may be helpful, but advice offered in a case history should be considered with a healthy dose of skepticism. There is a big difference between a website developed by a person with a financial interest in a topic and one developed from an objective viewpoint.

5. Who reviews the information? Does the website have an editorial board?

Click on the “About Us” page to see if an editorial board checks the information before putting it online. Find out if the editorial board members are experts in your research subject. Some websites have a section called “About Our Writers” instead of an editorial policy. Dependable websites will tell you where the information came from and how it has been reviewed.

6. When was the information written?

It’s important to find out when the information you are reading was written. Look carefully on the home page to find out when the website was last updated. The date is often found at the bottom of the home page. Remember: older information isn’t useless. Many websites provide older articles so readers can get an historical view of the information.

7. Does the website make claims that seem too good to be true? Are quick, miraculous problem fixes offered?

Be skeptical of sensational writing, or easy and quick problem fixes. Make sure you can find other websites with the same information. Don’t be fooled by a long list of links—any website can link to another, so no endorsement can be implied from a shared link. Take the “too good to be true” test—information that sounds unbelievable probably is unbelievable.

A final note

Use your common sense and good judgment when evaluating information online. There are websites on nearly every conceivable topic and no rules overseeing the quality of the information. Take a deep breath and think a bit before acting on any information you find on the web. Don’t count on any one website. If possible, check with several sources to confirm the accuracy of your results.

News Literacy and Its Components

 

Image Credit: Evangeline Shaw, Unsplash

As part of our continuing discussion of different types of literacy, this blog post addresses News Literacy in honor of the 5th Annual National News Literacy Week, January 22 – 26. 

 

News literacy is critically analyzing and evaluating news sources, stories, and information. It involves developing the skills and knowledge necessary to be an informed news consumer. News literacy goes beyond simply being able to access information; it emphasizes the capacity to assess the credibility, reliability, and relevance of news content. Ashley (2022) provides the following definition:

 

News literacy is the critical evaluation of information content as well as the contexts where it is produced and consumed. We can think of news literacy as the set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that a person brings to their personal consumption of information and to their understanding of the structure of the news media landscape.

 

 

Ashley’s book News Literacy and Democracy (2020) also links news literacy with democracy. He writes, “Democracy is ultimately about citizen participation in the organization of society. We are governed by elected representatives, and because representative government requires an informed citizenry, we need news that gives us an accurate picture of our environment. But the morass of information out in the world today poses a real threat to our ability to govern our societies” (p. 4). Ashley explains that we each have the power to be selective about the information we expose ourselves to, and this ability can shape our perceptions of reality, which in turn influences our behaviors and attitudes. Some people choose to tune out altogether. Indeed, the Digital News Report by Reuter indicates that social networks have become a primary news source for 18-24-year-olds (Eddy, 2022). The report further claims that only 26% of Americans trust news generally.

 

We have traveled far from the days of trusted news anchors such as Walter Cronkite, a CBS news anchor from 1962 to 1981, who was known as the most trusted man in America in the 1960s and 1970s. Instead of a few trusted sources of information, digital media have saturated daily life, making it difficult to distinguish legitimate information from biased, fake, and falsified news. Hornick (2024), writing for the News Literacy Center at Stony Brook University, indicates that: “New technologies to create and share information make it easy to create content that only appears authoritative and then to spread it virally. The conflict between speed and accuracy has been exacerbated by Digital Age demands for delivering information as fast as possible, but accelerating that process increases the chance it will be wrong” (para. 4). While nearly everyone can create and publish media with a laptop or smartphone, the responsibility to be accurate, truthful, and unbiased is not shared. The News Literacy Center provides news literacy lessons for college/university students, community groups, and K-12 students. The website references 18 other organizations concerned about news sites' quality and trustworthiness, including the Media Literacy Clearinghouse and the American Press Institute. 

 

PBS Learning Media for Teachers houses several collections of lessons on news and media literacy. The lessons include videos, blog articles, student handouts, lesson plans, and tip sheets to help students identify, analyze, and investigate the news and information they get from online sources. These lessons are aimed at K-12 students. PBS Learning Media for Teachers and the News Literacy Center link news literacy and democracy.

 

Components of News Literacy

 

1.     Critical Thinking

News literacy encourages individuals to approach information critically. This includes questioning the source, understanding the context, and evaluating the evidence from news stories.

 

2.     Source Evaluation

Understanding where news comes from is crucial. News literacy involves assessing the credibility and reliability of news sources. Differentiating between reputable journalistic sources and unreliable sources is a fundamental skill.

 

3.     Fact-Checking

Fact-checking is an integral part of news literacy. Individuals are encouraged to verify the accuracy of claims and information presented in news stories before accepting them as accurate.

 

4.     Media Bias Awareness

Recognizing and understanding media bias is essential. News literacy helps individuals identify potential biases in news reporting and how they might influence the presentation of information.

 

5.     Contextual Awareness

News stories often need to be understood within their broader context. News literacy involves considering the historical, cultural, and social context in which events are reported.

 

6.     Digital Literacy

With the rise of digital media and online information, news literacy includes digital literacy skills. This involves understanding how information spreads on social media, recognizing online misinformation, and being aware of the potential for manipulation.

 

7.     Diversity of Sources

News literacy emphasizes the importance of seeking information from diverse sources. Exposure to various perspectives helps individuals develop a more comprehensive understanding of issues.

 

8.     Ethical Considerations

News literacy includes an awareness of journalistic ethics. This involves understanding the responsibilities of journalists, respecting the rights of individuals featured in news stories, and recognizing the importance of unbiased reporting.

 

9.     Engagement and Participation

News literacy encourages active engagement with news and current events. This can include participating in discussions, sharing responsibly sourced information, and being an informed citizen.

 

Promoting news literacy is essential in a world where misinformation and disinformation can spread rapidly. By fostering these skills, individuals are better equipped to navigate the complex media landscape and make informed decisions about the information they encounter.

 

References

Ashley, S. (2020). New Literacy and Democracy. Available online https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/2ed9be72-d915-4e0f-bc8e-7977d9ae4d56/9780429863073.pdf

Eddy, K. (2022, June 15). The changing news habits and attitudes of younger audiences. Reuter Digital News Report. Retrieved https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2022/young-audiences-news-media

Hornick, R. (2024). Why News Literacy Matters: A NEW LITERACY FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE 21st CENTURY. Retrieved https://digitalresource.center/why-news-literacy-matters

 

Making Sense of Internet Results

 

By Lilian H. Hill

Any internet search will return thousands, or even millions, of results in less than a minute. How do you make sense of them? 

To best understand web search results, it is helpful to understand the terms Search Engine Results Page (SERP), Uniform Resource Locator (URL), sponsored content, and search engine optimization. These terms may be unfamiliar, so they are explained below.

Search Engine Results Page (SERP)

The format of this page may vary depending on what your search is about. For example, if you wish to purchase a down winter coat, the first page will likely contain ads from companies selling this type of coat. If you are searching for information about a topic, a knowledge graph may appear on the upper right side that contains brief statements about the topic, including photos and graphs (van de Rakt, 2018). 

Other features of the SERP are “Related Searches” or “People Also Ask For,” followed by variations and alternatives to the search terms you used. Depending on the words you used in your search terms, you may also see a definition of the word. 

    Search Result Organization. Search results are usually displayed with 10 results on each page. Each result will display a website name, address, and brief information about the website. See the example below.

Typically, search results are organized or ranked by their relevance to the query. Therefore, what you are searching for may be located on the first page of the results. 

Uniform Results Locator (URL) or Website Address 

Internet searches return information that is available on various websites. In addition to the website's name, the results display the URL. It functions in much the same way as a street address. Each URL is unique and should take you to a single website (Chi, 2023).

 

Figure 1: Anatomy of a Uniform Resource Locator

1. Scheme is the first part of a URL. Most website addresses begin with http:// which stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol. As personal privacy and security have become essential, look for the secure version: https:// meaning HyperText Transfer Protocol. The difference between http and https may feel like a minor detail, but “https” instructs your web browser to encrypt, meaning convert into code important information you enter, such as passwords or credit card numbers. That protects you from cyber criminals who want to steal your identity (Chi, 2023). 
2. Second-level domain is the name of the website you are visiting. Sometimes, it is an abbreviation of the website name when it is long (Chi, 2023). 
3. Top-level domain refers to the type of organization that owns the website. Domain extensions convey important information about the website's purpose and how trustworthy it might be. For example:
• .gov is reserved for government organizations
• .org is used by other types of organizations like non-profit organizations 
• .edu is used by educational institutions 
• .com is used by commercial entities (Chi, 2023; Domain, 2021).
4. Sub-directory directs your search to a particular location or page on a website (Chi, 2023). In Figure 1, the subdirectory directs the searcher to the Adult Learning Exchange Virtual Community page of the SCOC Consulting website. 

Sponsored Content

The first several results may be labeled as sponsored, meaning they are advertisements for a product or service. Depending on your interests, sponsored content may only be somewhat relevant. 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO refers to the process of making changes to a website to increase its visibility in search engines so that the website is more likely to appear on the first page of a search result. If you are a vendor or service provider or share information on topics people seek, it is easy to understand how important it is to be more visible. Many companies now employ people whose responsibility is SEO. They constantly tinker with website wording to match the keywords people most use. This means there may be better choices than the websites on the first page. Instead, the website staff may be very skilled in SEO and the product or service, but it is possible that the product or information could be mediocre. That is why it is important to dig past the first page of results (MindTools Content Team, 2023).

This information provides the first steps to being able to assess the credibility of the results of any internet search. Future blog posts will explore how to assess the information provided on a website. 

References

Chi, C. (2023, May 10). Parts of a URL: A short guide. Retrieved https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/parts-url#:~:text=What%20are%20the%20parts%20of,at%20least%20three%20of%20them.

Domain (2021, March 22). Types of a domain: A helpful guide. Retrieved https://www.domain.com/blog/domain-name-types/

MindTools Content Team (2023). Seven ways to find what you want on the internet. Retrieved https://www.mindtools.com/abtmh5z/seven-ways-to-find-what-you-want-on-the-internet

 van de Rakt, M. (2018, February 26). SEO basics: Elements of the Google Search Engine Results Page. Retrieved https://yoast.com/elements-of-the-google-search-result-page/#:~:text=Google's%20SERPs%20can%20show%20various,these%20elements%20will%20show%20up

How to Write Effective Internet Search Queries

 

Searching for information on the internet can be overwhelming. Search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Duck, Duck Go source information from websites and there are more than 1.13 billion websites on a worldwide basis and a new one is created every three seconds (Haan & Bottorf, 2023). Search engines can produce millions of results in less than a second. Another interesting statistic is that most internet searches are conducted on smartphones.

Writing effective internet search queries is crucial for finding relevant information quickly and efficiently. To get the best results from an internet search, it is important to be specific in the language you use in your search query.

 

Tips to Craft Effective Search Queries

Simplify Your Searches

Remove unnecessary words, avoid conjunctions (and, or, but) and skip punctuation. For example, instead of asking “explain how many times most people search the world-wide-web in their lifetime, please?” you can say “number times people search internet.” It is not necessary to use complete sentences or be polite with a search engine (Indeed, 2023; Mind Tools, 2023).

Use Specific Keywords

Keywords are the terms you use to find information on the internet. Use keywords that accurately represent your topic of interest. Instead of generic terms, use specific and unique words related to your query (Indeed, 2023; Mind Tools, 2023).

Use the Simplest Form of Keywords

Use the most basic form of a keyword: service instead of services or servicing, finance instead of financed or financing, and describe instead of description. You can also write the root word with an asterik, such as “creat*”, and then any words that contain the root such as create, creative, creating, and recreate would be included in the search (Indeed, 2023; Mind Tools, 2023).

Use the Asterisk (*) as a Wildcard

You can also use an asterisk as a wildcard to fill in information you are uncertain about. For example, "The * of Cooking" will help you fill in the popular cookbook title, “The Joy of Cooking.” Depending on how common the words in your wildcard search are, you may have to sort through related results. For example, searching for “The * of Cooking” will bring up similar titles such as The Meaning of Cooking (Indeed, 2023; Mind Tools, 2023).

Experiment and Refine

If your initial search does not yield the desired results, don't hesitate to experiment with different keywords and combinations. Refine your search based on the results you receive. Persistence will produce useful results.

Check for Synonyms and Related Terms

Think of synonyms and related terms that might be used in the content you're looking for. Include these in your search query to broaden your results. If you are looking for information that could be represented by different terms, use "OR" between the terms. For example, "healthy eating OR nutrition" (Indeed, 2023; Mind Tools, 2023).

Avoid Words with Multiple Meanings

For example, the word “ship” can be a noun that describes a large boat or a verb, meaning to send a package. If you want to know how long it takes to send a package overseas and your search results are about yachts or fishing boats, you will need to be more specific in the next search.

Exclude Information from a Search

You can use the minus sign (-) before a word to exclude it from the search results. For example, if you are looking for information about jaguars, the animals but not sports cars, you can search for "jaguar -car." This will exclude websites about automobiles named jaguar (Indeed, 2023; Mind Tools, 2023).

Use Quotation Marks to Search for Specific Terms or Phrases

Use quotation marks to search for an exact phrase. For example, "climate change" will search for that specific term rather than individual occurrences of "climate" and "change." If you want information about a specific form of a word, quotation marks will prevent returns about variations of the word. For example, searching for “director” will return results solely about that form of the word and exclude directing, directorship, directive, etc (Indeed, 2023; Mind Tools, 2023).

Specify a Site or Domain

To narrow down your search to a specific website or domain, use the "site:" operator. For instance, "site:wikipedia.org space exploration" will only search for information about space exploration on Wikipedia (Indeed, 2023; Mind Tools, 2023).

Be Careful about Spelling

Ensure that your query is correctly spelled and that you use the correct word. Misspelled words and using an incorrect word can lead to irrelevant results. Fortunately, search engines will correct common word confusions. For example, if you type in “loose weight,” your search will be corrected to “lose weight,” but you will still have the option to search for the words you first used.

Use Voice Search

Many search engines include a voice search option, meaning you can speak your search engine phrase aloud rather than having to type it. This is very helpful when you are unsure about how words are spelled or have a condition that prevents you from typing. You can access the voice search feature on most of these search engines by pressing the microphone icon (Indeed, 2023).

Image Credit: Microsoft Stock Images

Typically, search results are organized, or ranked, by their relevance to the query. Therefore, what you are searching for may be located on the first page of results. However, it is also important to recognize that the first several results may be labelled as sponsored, meaning that they are really advertisements for a product or service, and may not be fully relevant.

 

Effective search engine searches can involve a combination of these techniques. By carefully crafting your queries, you can enhance the precision and relevance of your search results.

 

References

Haan, K. & Bottorff, C. (2023, February 14). Top website statistics for 2023. Forbes Advisor. Retrieved https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/website-statistics/#:~:text=There%20are%20about%201.13%20billion,are%20actively%20used%20and%20updated 

Indeed Editorial Team (2023, February 21). 22 Internet Search Tips on Finding what you need online. Indeed. Retrieved https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/internet-search-tips

 Mind Tools Content Team (2023). Seven ways to find what you want on the internet: Gathering what you need, discarding what you don't. Retrieved https://www.mindtools.com/abtmh5z/seven-ways-to-find-what-you-want-on-the-internet

 

Guidelines for Creating Visuals

 

Image credit: Antoni Shkraba/Pexels

By Lilian H. Hill

 

Visual content in social media and networks has become more important with the emphasis on storytelling using pictures. One reason is that the human brain processes visual images 60,000 times more quickly than written text. Visuals capture our attention and can lend clarity to written text. Additionally,

 

• On average, people spend more than 2 hours on social media daily, and during the COVID pandemic quarantine that time increased (Hernandez, 2021). 
• 63% of social media is made up of images.  
• Nearly half of all Internet users have reposted a photo or video they have found online.  
• 54% of Internet users have posted an original photo or video that they personally have created. 
• Content with relevant images gets 94% more views than content without (Lee, 2014).

 

There are many types of visuals you can choose to use or create including creative photography, video, screenshots, infographics, data visualization (charts and graphs), comics, memes, visual note-taking, and miscellaneous graphics (Lee, 2014). Additionally, PowerPoint and Prezi are commonly used to make presentations.

 

Marketing researchers have identified that what captures viewers’ attention best are visuals with low cognitive demand and high clarity, meaning that they can be quickly understood (Hernandez, 2021).

 

Therefore, we provide some brief guidelines to help readers become more effective in the visual images that they select, curate, and create.

____________________________________________________________________________

 

Use faces in your visuals.

• People have evolved to pay attention to human faces and what they are looking at (Hernandez, 2021).

 

Keep visual content clean.

• If your visual image is too complex or cluttered, it will increase cognitive demand and reduce clarity (Hernandez, 2021).

 

Create a center of attention.

• Usually, viewers will focus on the front and center of the visual image. This is where you want to place the most important visually idea (Hernandez, 2021).

 

Use high-quality graphics. 

• Resolution matters. Low-resolution images will look fuzzy, especially if you are projecting your visuals.

• Copyright also matters. It is tempting to copy images from the internet but can get you in legal trouble.

• Some sources provide high-resolution images that are no- or low-cost and copyright-free. You can begin with clip art provided with Microsoft products. Other sources include Flickr, Pexels, Unsplash, and Getty Images (Lee, 2014).

 

Use visual image-creation tools.

• These tools can help create effective visuals and are particularly useful for people without a graphic design background.

• Many people get good results using Presentation software such as PowerPoint.

• Canva, Remix, and Easel.ly are just a few examples (Lee, 2022).

• The following example was created in Canva using an Infographic Template.
  

Visuals should relate to the point(s) you are making.

• There are times when a picture really is worth 1000 words. However, remember that the purpose of visuals is to reinforce and augment your message, not to distract from it.

 

Reduce the amount of written text.

• If you have more text than can be comfortably fit on a page or slide in a reasonable point size, either divide it into a series of slides or convert the information to a handout.

• If you copy a chart or something similar, increase the size of the image so that it can be clearly seen, especially if you plan on projecting your visual image.

Use a minimum of 18 pt. type. Between 24 and 48 is even better.

• Look at your visuals from a distance to be sure the information can be clearly seen. For images such as chemical structures, it is crucial that fine details can be seen.

 

Choose fonts carefully. 

• Sans-serif fonts are often easier to read than serif fonts.

• Too many different fonts in a slide or a presentation can be distracting, so use no more than two fonts per page, and avoid fonts that are not easily understood such as Baquet Script or Curlz MT.

 

The use of color is helpful.

• Be judicious in your choice of colors. Too many colors can be distracting.

• There must be sufficient difference between the background color and the print or image. For example, red type of white background does not provide enough contrast and neither does pale blue on a dark blue background work well.

• Think carefully about color symbolism, the subjective meaning humans attach to various colors. Try to avoid colors and color combinations that might offend people.

 

Remember the needs of students who are color blind.

• There are many different types and degrees of colorblindness, instead, they are "color deficiencies" since few people are unable to perceive at least some colors.

• For some color deficient individuals, the names red, orange, yellow, and green are simply different names for the same color. The same can be true for violet, lavender, purple, and blue.

• Among the colors most often confused are pink/gray, orange/red, white/green, green/brown, blue green/gray, green/yellow, brown/maroon, and beige/green. Pastels and muted tones are also difficult to distinguish.

 

Do use some white space.

• A visual or a page that is too crowded can overwhelm, confuse, and discourage the reader.

 

References

 

Hernandez, S. (2021, October 25). How to get the most visual attention on your content. Retrieved https://www.socialmediatoday.com/spons/how-to-get-the-most-visual-attention-on-your-content/608678/

Lee, K. (2014, May 27). A complete guide to visual content: The science, tools and strategy of creating killer images. Retrieved https://buffer.com/resources/a-complete-guide-to-creating-awesome-visual-content/

Lee, K. (2021, October 31). 22 tools and resources to create images for social media. Retrieved https://buffer.com/library/tools-create-images-for-social-media/ 

Trafton, A. (2014, January 16). In the blink of an eye: MIT neuroscientists find the brain can identify images seen for as little as 13 milliseconds. MIT News, Retrieved https://news.mit.edu/2014/in-the-blink-of-an-eye-0116