Evaluating the Credibility of English Web Sources as a Foreign-Language Searcher

摘要

In this paper, we present preliminary findings from anrnexploratory mixed-methods study of foreign-languagernsearchers’ credibility assessment of web documents whenrnsearching in English. Findings highlight a set of criteriarnused by these searchers to assess the credibility andrnaccuracy of English web sources, the most frequent ofrnwhich relates to source reputation. Foreign languagernsearchers are more likely to trust an English languagernsource if it is familiar or if it is the official source ofrninformation. Design aesthetics and functionality also havernan impact on credibility. Findings have implications for therndesign of online sources that better support credibilityrnassessments of foreign-language searchers.