Wikipedia and Internet Research: A Slippery Slope

Summary

This video script discusses the importance of evaluating the credibility and objectivity of online information, using the Exxon Valdez oil spill as a case study. It highlights how information can be manipulated, as seen with Exxon's editing of Wikipedia's description of the spill. The script provides four criteria for assessing website credibility: authority and credibility, objectivity and purpose, currency, and references or documentation. It also suggests ways to enhance research credibility and offers assistance from librarians at the Stewart library.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 was a significant environmental disaster, highlighting the importance of accurate information in managing public perception and corporate image.
• 🔍 The ability to manipulate information online, such as on Wikipedia, can be used to control narratives and downplay negative impacts, as allegedly done by Exxon in 2004.
• 🌐 Information from various sources, including think tanks like the Brookings Institute or the Cato Institute, may carry biases that influence their research and presentation of facts.
• 🏛 When evaluating websites, consider the domain type (.com, .org, .gov), but remember that credibility and appropriateness of information are key, regardless of the domain.
• 🛡 Authority and credibility are crucial; check the organization behind the website to ensure it is reliable, contrasting the example of a white supremacy group's website with a government health site.
• 🤔 Objectivity and purpose should be scrutinized; a website's stated purpose may differ from its underlying agenda, as seen with a site related to the California Republican caucus.
• 📅 Currency of information is important; look for copyright or last updated dates to gauge the timeliness of the content.
• 🔗 Websites that provide references or documentation for their information are more trustworthy, as they allow for verification of sources.
• 🗺️ Good website evaluation also includes checking for easy navigation, related links, and additional research materials like peer-reviewed journals and primary research.
• ℹ️ For questions about evaluating websites or information, librarians at the Stewart library are available for assistance through various contact methods.

Q & A

What was the Exxon Valdez oil spill and why was it significant?

The Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 was one of the worst oil disasters in U.S. history. It occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and caused significant environmental damage, leading to a race to control the damage to the environment and to Exxon's reputation.

How can information on the internet be manipulated, as suggested by the script?

Information on the internet can be manipulated by altering content to downplay negative impacts or to cast a more positive light on a subject, as was the case with the Exxon Valdez oil spill's Wikipedia page, where changes were made to downplay the impact on wildlife and highlight Exxon's compensation payments.

Why is it important to evaluate the credibility of information sources on the web?

Evaluating the credibility of information sources is crucial because not all sources are created equal. Some may have political or ideological biases, which can affect the accuracy and objectivity of the information presented.

What are the four criteria mentioned in the script for evaluating a website's credibility?

The four criteria for evaluating a website's credibility are: Authority and credibility, Objectivity bias and purpose, Currency, and References or documentation.

How can a website's authority and credibility be assessed?

A website's authority and credibility can be assessed by checking the organization behind the site, looking for clear indications of the entity responsible for the content, and verifying if it is a reputable source such as a government agency or a recognized institution.

What does objectivity bias and purpose mean in the context of evaluating websites?

Objectivity bias and purpose refer to evaluating whether the information on a website is presented without bias and whether the site's main goal is to inform or if it serves a political or promotional agenda.

Why is the currency of information important when evaluating a website?

The currency of information is important because it indicates how up-to-date the content is. Information that is current is more likely to be relevant and accurate, which is crucial for research and decision-making.

How can one determine if a website provides proper references or documentation?

A website provides proper references or documentation if it lists its sources, links to other relevant sites, and indicates when the information was last updated, showing transparency and supporting the credibility of the content.

What additional factors can help in evaluating a website beyond the four main criteria?

Additional factors for evaluating a website include ease of navigation, a list of links to related organizations or publications, and the presence of high-relevancy, accuracy, and scholarly information such as peer-reviewed journals and primary research material.

How can one get help with research questions at the Stewart library, as mentioned in the script?

At the Stewart library, one can get help with research questions by chatting live with librarians via the 'Ask a Librarian' link, calling, emailing, or visiting the Reference Desk in person.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and Information Manipulation

This paragraph discusses the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, highlighting the efforts to control the narrative around the disaster rather than the spill itself. It emphasizes the importance of information power and how manipulation of information can significantly impact public perception. The paragraph also touches on the prevalence of information on the internet, particularly on platforms like Wikipedia, and the potential for such information to be biased or manipulated. It warns of the influence of private organizations with political or ideological agendas on the information available on the web. The paragraph concludes with advice for students to critically evaluate the credibility and appropriateness of online sources using four criteria: authority and credibility, objectivity and purpose, currency, and references or documentation.

Keywords

💡Exxon Valdez oil spill

The Exxon Valdez oil spill refers to a catastrophic event in 1989 where an oil tanker ran aground, causing a massive oil leak into the Prince William Sound in Alaska. This incident is highlighted in the video as an example of how information about a real-world event can be manipulated. The video discusses how Exxon might have tried to control the narrative surrounding the spill to minimize its negative impact on the company's image.

💡Information manipulation

Information manipulation is the act of altering or controlling the information presented to the public, often with the intent to influence perception or obscure the truth. The video uses the Exxon Valdez oil spill as a backdrop to discuss how Exxon allegedly manipulated information about the spill to downplay its environmental impact and emphasize their compensation efforts.

💡Wikipedia

Wikipedia is mentioned in the video as a common source of information that people turn to for quick facts. The video points out that Wikipedia can be edited by anyone, including potentially biased parties, which raises questions about the reliability of the information presented there, especially in sensitive cases like the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

💡Think tanks

Think tanks are organizations that conduct research and provide policy recommendations, often with a particular political or ideological bias. The video warns that information from think tanks like the Brookings Institute or the Cato Institute may not be neutral and could be aimed at promoting a specific agenda, which is crucial for students to consider when evaluating sources.

💡Credibility

Credibility in the context of the video refers to the trustworthiness and reliability of a source of information. The video emphasizes the importance of assessing the credibility of websites and other sources when researching, using examples such as the contrast between a white supremacy website and a government health information site.

💡Objectivity

Objectivity means presenting information in a balanced and unbiased way. The video discusses the need to evaluate the objectivity of a website, suggesting that some sites may have hidden political agendas that can affect the objectivity of the information they provide.

💡Currency

Currency in the context of information refers to how up-to-date the content is. The video uses the example of the MedlinePlus diabetes website, which is updated regularly, to illustrate the importance of checking the currency of information when evaluating its relevance and accuracy.

💡References and documentation

References and documentation are essential for verifying the source and accuracy of information. The video stresses the importance of looking for websites that provide clear references or documentation for their information, as this can significantly enhance the credibility and reliability of the content.

💡Domain types

Domain types such as .com, .org, and .gov are mentioned in the video to illustrate the variety of sources available on the internet. The video advises students to be cautious and evaluate the credibility of information regardless of the domain type, as each can host both reliable and unreliable sources.

💡Bias

Bias refers to a preconceived opinion or preference that can influence the presentation of information. The video discusses how bias can be present in various sources, including think tanks and websites, and the importance of recognizing and accounting for it when evaluating information.

💡MedlinePlus

MedlinePlus is used in the video as an example of a credible and authoritative source of health information. It is published by the National Institutes of Health, a federal government agency, and is designed to provide understandable information to the public. The video uses MedlinePlus to contrast with less reliable sources and to illustrate best practices in information sourcing.

Highlights

The Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 was one of the country's worst oil disasters.

Efforts were made to control the damage to the environment and to Exxon's reputation.

Information manipulation is presented as a form of power.

Wikipedia is mentioned as a top source for information on the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Exxon was accused of editing Wikipedia to downplay the spill's impact in 2004.

Think tanks may present biased information to promote a particular agenda.

Website credibility is crucial, with examples of both credible and non-credible sources.

The importance of evaluating a site's authority and credibility is emphasized.

Objective bias and purpose are key criteria for evaluating information sources.

Currency of information is important, with examples of how to check for it.

Documentation and references are essential for verifying a website's information.

Additional factors for evaluating websites include site navigation and related links.

Peer-reviewed journals and primary research material are recommended for high-quality information.

Librarians at the Stewart library can assist with questions and information evaluation.

Multiple contact methods for librarians are provided, including live chat, call, email, and in-person.

Transcripts

the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 was

one of this country's worst oil

disasters from the onset of the spill

the race was on to control the damage

but not the Prince William Sound the

race was on to control the damage to

Exxon if information is power then the

ability to change manipulate information

is the ultimate power for a student

doing research on the spill a simple

google search of Exxon Valdez oil spill

produces more than 570 thousand results

and not surprisingly at the top of the

search results is the omnipresent

Wikipedia but who created the

information on this Wikipedia page what

if I said X haunted in 2004 according to

a New York Times article someone at

Exxon made significant changes to the

description of the spill downplaying the

impact on wildlife while casting a more

positive light on exons compensation

payments but Wikipedia isn't the only

site where confusion can surface what

about information from organizations

like the Brookings Institute or the cato

institute the information comes across

as authoritative and well sourced but

the problem is many of these types of

think tanks are nothing more than

private organizations that hold

political or ideological biases with

much of their research focused on

promoting a particular agenda

information on the web

comes in a variety of addresses whether

that is a.com a.org or gov but no matter

what address the domain students must be

on guard to properly evaluate the

credibility and appropriateness of a

site's information here are four

criteria to use when evaluating a site

first is Authority and credibility one

of the most egregious examples of a

website lacking Authority or credibility

is one purported to be about the civil

rights leader Martin Luther King

Jr when a visitor first accesses this

website there is no obvious indication

of the organization behind this dot-org

it is only at the bottom of the site's

homepage that a visitor finds that the

website is hosted by Stormfront the

storefront link then takes visitors to a

web page explaining that storefront is a

white supremacy

the website's authority and credibility

disappear in contrast when a visitor

clicks on the about link for the

diabetes website put together by

MedlinePlus they find that the website

is published by the National Institutes

of Health a federal government agency

and the aim of the site is to provide

patients and their family with

information about diseases in the

language that an average person can

understand the second criteria is

objectivity bias and purpose take this

calm website on health care coverage in

California on first glance the site's

purpose appears to be to offer

information for California residents on

the new health care law but when we look

for an about link at the bottom of the

homepage we find a reference to the

Republican caucus of the California

Assembly next to that is a disclaimer

link that takes the visitor to a webpage

stating that the California State

Assembly does not warrant or make any

representation as to the quality content

accuracy or completeness for the

information on this site given that the

question arises on whether this site's

purpose is informational or political

our third criteria is currency how

current is the information on the

webpage or website this can either be

expressed by a copyright date or a last

updated date either these often appear

at the bottom of a web page in the case

of the MedlinePlus diabetes site the web

page had been updated only a couple of

days before being accessed a good

indication that the information on the

webpage is current the fourth criteria

is one of the most important this

focuses on whether the website supplies

references or documentation on where the

site's information came from a good

example of this is the MedlinePlus

diabetes website again

the site not only lists its references

but also links with other sites

displaying which sites the information

was from and the date that the

information was last updated on that

site other things you can look for when

evaluating website include easy site

navigation a list of links to related

organizations or publications as well as

additional research that offers

information of high relevancy accuracy

and scholarship such as peer reviewed

journals primary research material and

reports so remember if you ever have any

questions there's a number of different

ways you can contact librarians here at

the Stewart library you can chat live by

clicking on the ask a librarian link

here you can call us you can email or

you can come in person to the middle

level Reference Desk and ask you a

question there