Misinformation on the Internet: Applying Evaluation Skills to Online Information

Fitzgerald, M. A. (1997). "Misinformation on the Internet: Applying Evaluation Skills to Online Information." Emergency Librarian 24(3): 9-14.

This is a very readable and accessible article which deals with the practical issues of critically using the internet. The paper is essentially divided into two sections. Section 1, provides a comprehensive (for an article) set of reasons why the internet contains misinformation. Section 2, develops practical methods for assessing web based information.

Information Needs and Information Sources of Homeless Parents

Hersberger, J. (2001). "Everyday Information Needs and Information Sources of Homeless Parents." The New Review of Information Behaviour Research 2: 119 - 134.

From my perspective, this is a very useful paper; especially with view its design and methodology. It has two research questions:

1) What are the everyday information needs of homeless parents?

2) What are the everyday information sources of homeless parents?

The research is based on works done by Dervin on the information needs of citizens.

Methodology

Interview based on Dervin and sense-making was used, with data analysis from the interview transcripts. The findings were very useful in that there were several areas:

• Finance
• Child care and relationships
• Housing
• Health
• Employment
• Education
• Transportation
• Public assistance
• Shelter

Thinking critically about the internet

Martland and Rothbaum – Thinking critically about the internet

Martland, N. and F. Rothbaum (2006). "Thinking Critically About the Internet: Suggestions for Practitioners." Child Welfare 85(5): 837-852.

This is an excellent paper aimed at helping US parents use the internet. It starts off my stating that a majority of US parents use the internet and provides a wide range of sources for this. The paper lists specific skills:

1. Searching

2. Judging and trustworthiness.

Backup backup backup

Today is a reminder why it is essential to have a backup of all your data, as I have just replaced my hard disk. My old disk was only 13 months old and thankfully I make regular multiple backups. For the geeks among you, my new disk is 500 GB WD Caviar RE2 (an enterprise class hard drive)—thankfully all that was lost today, was time...

Back from my hols...

Back from Cornwall and my holidays. Cornwall is one of the most beautiful places to visit. I have also just realised how long it has been since I updated this blog—August has simply vanished!

Today I have been reading an excellent article:

Langford, L. (1998). "Information literacy: a clarification." School Libraries Worldwide 4(1): 59-72.

This is a thought provoking and critical review of information literacy from the view of a school librarian. Langford provides a good introduction and background. She provides a short history and discussion of ‘literacy’ and the recent fashion of lexicon inflation through the creation of a myriad of new literacies. After this discussion, Langford turns her attention to clarifying a definition for the term. This is a very good and easy to read article which provides any information literacy student with some of the issues around literacy and information literacy.

Coffee and Cake

Today was spent writing (or trying to) – eBay if all truth be known become a distraction as I tried (unsuccessfully) to buy a very cheap portable DVD player for the car so that my four and a half year old can watch DVDs on the long drive down to Cornwall (and back up-again) when we go in a few weeks. Anyway, this afternoon we attended a little soriée, a sort of end-of-term coffee and cake with the other PhD students in the faculty and their families, this was a really good opportunity to meet people informally – I know Sam, by boy made a new friend.

Blasted Printers

Why does printing take so long? It is perhaps the antiquated laser printer in my shared office --never works -- this means that I am relegated to the trusty but slow hp-desk jet on my desk that frankly, Noah would find frustratingly slow. Oh- well the trials and tribulation of a PhD student! Anyway, the good intention today was to print the reams of articles I still consider ‘important’ and need to read of the next few (!) days.