Web credibility and evaluation of academic websites in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The paradigm of Web services rendered through websites has newlinebeen gathering significant momentum in both academia and industry in recent newlineyears Websites are most important for information dissemination in this newlinetechnological era One of the important factors for the success of any newlineorganization or institution is its websites Academic websites provide newlineinformation about universities institutes and departments resources and newlineservices faculty members students alumni and others A good and well newlinedesigned academic website is not only an excellent media for publicizing the newlineactivities and services but also helps to bring it to the notice of users about all newlinethe significant information which they must know in using their products and newlineservices newlineThe aim of the academic websites study is to evaluate the level of newlineaccomplishment of required characteristics such as usability functionality newlinereliability and efficiency comparing partial and global preferences newlineSpecifically in the academic domain there are three general audiences newlineregarding the user visitor view namely: current and prospective students newlineand visitors like parents academic personnel such as researchers and newlineprofessors and research sponsors Therefore visitors are mainly concerned in newlineusing the site ie its performance its searching and browsing functions its newlinespecific user oriented content and functionality its reliability its feedback newlineand aesthetic features and ultimately are interested in its quality of use newlineIn this study an attempt has been made to identify the credibility newlinefactors for academic websites with respect to user perspectives Based on the newlinecredibility factors identified by the professionals especially Library and newlineInformation Science LIS professionals the academic websites were assessed newlinewith the help of selected LIS professionals newlineThe study comprises of two parts First part of the study is to newlineidentify expectations of the academic websites newline newline