Wikipedia and Internet Research: A Slippery Slope
Summary
TLDRThis 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
- π 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.
- π 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.
- π 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.
- π When evaluating websites, consider the domain type (.com, .org, .gov), but remember that credibility and appropriateness of information are key, regardless of the domain.
- π‘ 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.
- π€ 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.
- π Currency of information is important; look for copyright or last updated dates to gauge the timeliness of the content.
- π Websites that provide references or documentation for their information are more trustworthy, as they allow for verification of sources.
- πΊοΈ Good website evaluation also includes checking for easy navigation, related links, and additional research materials like peer-reviewed journals and primary research.
- βΉοΈ 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
π 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Exxon Valdez oil spill
π‘Information manipulation
π‘Wikipedia
π‘Think tanks
π‘Credibility
π‘Objectivity
π‘Currency
π‘References and documentation
π‘Domain types
π‘Bias
π‘MedlinePlus
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
Browse More Related Video
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)