Evaluation in the Arts and Humanities Data Service

Journal article

There are a large number of free electronic resources available on the web, from various sources, including the outputs of funded research projects. There are not yet well-established procedures for the evaluation of the quality and usefulness of these electronic resources. This article examines two preliminary approaches to the problem. An Investigation into Free E-books was carried out for the JISC to examine the potential for the use of free e-books in teaching and learning in Further and Higher Education in the UK. Questionnaires, a dissemination workshop and focus groups were used to obtain the research results. Three possible approaches to evaluation are discussed, involving (i) the collection of high-quality resources in a trusted repository, (ii) large scale evaluation of available resources and (iii) evaluation by end-users. The practical problems of each approach are discussed. The prospect of future large-scale digitisation projects and their possible impact in this field is also considered. It is concluded that it is necessary for end-users of electronic resources to get involved now in the planning stage of such initiatives to attempt to ensure that the outputs are in suitable formats and of the necessary quality. In a separate section, the question of evaluation of electronic resources is briefly considered in the context of collections development in the Arts and Humanities Data Service (AHDS). The conclusion is drawn that it is more cost effective to intervene early in the life-cycle of a digital resource and to help ensure good practice in the creation of the resource, than to attempt to evaluate and enhance a resource at the end of the creation process. This paper draws on the unique experience of the AHDS as a central, national service for researchers in the Arts and Humanities creating and using electronic resources.

• Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Journal: VINE
• Issue: 34
• Publication date: 2004-01-01
• Subjects: Library & information sciences; OUCS