Hannalee Billings

Wellness for Life

January 27th 2014
Website 1:
http://www.medicinenet.com/gastroesophageal_reflux_disease_gerd/page2.htm
#what_is_gerd
Authority:
*Is the author clearly identified?

Yes No *Provide details

Medical Author:
Jay W. Marks, MD
Medical Editor:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD,
PhD

Is data included about the

Jay Marks: Graduated from

author/information provider? (i.e.

Yale

about us)

Charles Davis: Graduated

from University of Texas

*Is the author affiliated with a relevant

Jay Marks: Was Associate

professional institution/organization?

director of the division of

gastroenterology
Charles Davis: Was Chief of
emergency medicine at UT
medical branch

*Is the author qualified to write on

Jay Marks: Board certified

this subject?

gastroenterologist and has

(i.e. credentials)

written 36 original
manuscripts
Charles Davis: Certified
Emergency Medicine doctor
and has written over 250

Hannalee Billings
Wellness for Life
January 27th 2014
publications
*Does the url (address) give you clues

to the authority of the source?

Would you be able to contact

someone at this website?

*Is there evidence of quality control?

Medically reviewed by a

(i.e. peer reviewers, editorial staff)

Accuracy:

doctor on 9/11/2013
Yes No *Provide details

*Are references provided to determine

where the information was obtained
from?
*Is the information easily verifiable?
How?
Is the information dependable and

No grammar mistakes,

error-free?

proper use of medical

jargon

*Is there a clear purpose for the

Medicine

TOP 10 Gastroesophageal

internet site?
Are links to other sites relevant and
valuable?

reflux disease (GERD)

related articles

Objectivity:

Yes No *Provide details

*Is there evidence that suggests bias?

*Is the author trying to change your

opinion?

*Does the site offer anything for sale?

Although there are

Hannalee Billings
Wellness for Life
January 27th 2014
advertisements there is
nothing for sale

Currency:

Yes No *Provide details

*Are you able to determine when the

information was first written?

*Are you able to determine when the

information was first posted to the

web?
*Are you able to determine when the

9/11/2013

material was last updated?

Do all of the links work and are they

up-to-date?

*Does the organization or person

Updated frequently

hosting the resource appear to have a

commitment to ongoing maintenance
and stability of the resource?

Usability:
Can you easily read and understand

Yes No *Provide details

Clear, headings, margins

the information on the site?

Is the site organized in a logical

manner to facilitate the location of

information?
Does the site have a well-labeled table

of contents?
Are the pages uncluttered and cleanly

Hannalee Billings
Wellness for Life
January 27th 2014
designed?
Are the navigation buttons consistent

throughout the website?

Are the links clearly and accurately

described?
Part B: Conclusions: Based on the evaluation process, respond to questions 1
& 2 found below.
1. What is your overall impression of the website you evaluated? Is it a source
of valid, reliable and credible information and one you could use to further
your general knowledge of the topic?
Use the information you gathered in the chart and discuss the five criteria to
support your argument.
My overall impression of this website is that it is very reliable and
credible because of the information and links regarding the authors and
reviewers of the article. I also think that there were so many other links
regarding GERD that I could easily find more information on the topic without
having to go elsewhere. I also feel that this website exceeds the general
knowledge of GERD but it in a way that is easy to understand. This website
exceeds general knowledge by listing several causes and alternative medicines
to treat GERD. This website is presented with easy links that are accessible
and frequent maintenance that reassures accuracy.
2. Information that may be included in academic research requires the
researcher to apply more rigorous criteria than one might use to gain some
knowledge about a topic. Using the Definitions of Evaluative Criteria for
Academic Research (above) and your responses in the chart to support your
argument, discuss whether you feel this site meets sufficient criteria to cite in
a research paper or project. Why or why not?
Yes, I do feel that this site meets sufficient criteria to cite in a research
paper and/or project because the citations are clear, the page flows well,

Hannalee Billings
Wellness for Life
January 27th 2014
authors information (professional institution/organization) is present and
expresses that each author is qualified to write/review this article. Also, the
information regarding GERD is concise and does not include any bias towards
the subject. Finally, although there was not a table of contents I was able to
navigate successfully throughout the website.
Website 2: http://www.patient.co.uk/health/acid-reflux-and-oesophagitis
Authority:

Yes No *Provide details

*Is the author clearly identified?

Dr. Tim Kenny

Is data included about the

Learn more/ Disclaimer

author/information provider? (i.e.

about us)
*Is the author affiliated with a

relevant professional
institution/organization?
*Is the author qualified to write on

Need more information

this subject?
(i.e. credentials)
*Does the url (address) give you

.co.uk

clues to the authority of the source?

Would you be able to contact

someone at this website?

*Is there evidence of quality control?

Dr Adrian Bonsall

(i.e. peer reviewers, editorial staff)

Accuracy:
*Are references provided to
determine where the information was

Yes No *Provide details

Reference list

Hannalee Billings
Wellness for Life
January 27th 2014
obtained from?
*Is the information easily verifiable?

Personal knowledge

How?
Is the information dependable and

about disorder
No grammar mistakes,

error-free?

proper use of medical

jargon

*Is there a clear purpose for the

internet site?
Are links to other sites relevant and

Read more/ Find

valuable?

Support/ Professional
reference

Objectivity:

*Is there evidence that suggests

Yes No *Provide details

bias?
*Is the author trying to change your

opinion?

*Does the site offer anything for

sale?

Although there are

advertisements there is
nothing for sale

Currency:
*Are you able to determine when the
information was first written?

Yes No *Provide details

Hannalee Billings
Wellness for Life
January 27th 2014
*Are you able to determine when the

information was first posted to the

web?
*Are you able to determine when the

4/22/2013

material was last updated?

Do all of the links work and are they

up-to-date?

*Does the organization or person

Updated frequently

hosting the resource appear to have

a commitment to ongoing
maintenance and stability of the
resource?

Usability:
Can you easily read and understand

Yes No *Provide details

Clear, headings, margins

On this page Links such

the information on the site?

Is the site organized in a logical
manner to facilitate the location of

as: symptoms and causes

information?
Does the site have a well-labeled

table of contents?
Are the pages uncluttered and

cleanly designed?

Color scheme is consistent

and flows throughout
page

Are the navigation buttons consistent

throughout the website?

Hannalee Billings
Wellness for Life
January 27th 2014
Are the links clearly and accurately

described?
Part B: Conclusions: Based on the evaluation process, respond to questions 1
& 2 found below.
1. What is your overall impression of the website you evaluated? Is it a source
of valid, reliable and credible information and one you could use to further
your general knowledge of the topic? Use the information you gathered in
the chart and discuss the five criteria to support your argument.
I feel as though this website isnt as strong in reliability and credibility
as the first because I was unable to find information about each physician
that wrote the article. It is valid information, solely because I have that
disorder that I can confirm it. General knowledge can be gained from this
website about acid reflux, such as the definition/ description of acid reflux and
symptoms.
2. Information that may be included in academic research requires the
researcher to apply more rigorous criteria than one might use to gain some
knowledge about a topic. Using the Definitions of Evaluative Criteria for
Academic Research (above) and your responses in the chart to support your
argument, discuss whether you feel this site meets sufficient criteria to cite in
a research paper or project. Why or why not?
No, I do not feel that this site meets sufficient criteria to cite in a
research paper because the author, although present, does not have clear
information of his/hers affiliation or program regarding the subject matter.
That being said, I cannot for certain know that they are qualified to write this
article. I do feel that it is a good place to start and with the links at the
bottom stating, read more would be helpful when looking into research else
where about the topic.