Evaluation of the Websites of Specialized Journals in the Field of Information Science and Knowledge

Purpose: The present study aims to examine the visual, structural, and content characteristics of the websites of Persian-language journals in the field of information science and knowledge in Iran. This study employs a survey research method with a descriptive approach to assess the status of websites belonging to specialized journals in the field of information science and knowledge in Iran.
Method: Data collection was conducted using a researcher-developed checklist tool divided into three sections: appearance criteria, structural criteria, and content criteria. The three-dimensional evaluation of the websites in question was conducted by the researcher, who directly referenced each journal's website and employed the observation method. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software.
Findings: The comparison of the three-dimensional features analyzed on the publications' websites revealed that they were in a desirable, acceptable, and satisfactory state, respectively, regarding their structural, content, and aesthetic components. The components of search links, including those found in general search engines, chat rooms, website advertisements, and the website's creation date, received the lowest scores among the structural elements. The lack of attention to the elements that facilitate searching within general search engines from the publication's website, the components that foster user interaction and incorporate their feedback into policymaking, and the factors related to building the audience's trust in the publication's credibility were significant weaknesses observed in the structural category of the publications' websites. In terms of content features, the lowest scores were attributed to the components of article titles in Arabic, article titles in other languages, and the acknowledgment of the sources of the website's content, all of which received no points. In the section on appearance features, items such as inserting a logo, noting title changes, and including a short title should also be considered. The lowest scores were attributed to the components of accompanying content, such as sound, video, images, photos, and charts, which were not present on any of the websites studied.
Conclusion: Websites serve as an effective tool for facilitating communication between publications and their audiences interested in education and research. In this study, we found that the websites examined are in a favorable condition regarding their structure and content, while their appearance is deemed acceptable. However, all three components reveal weaknesses that the publication's staff should address and rectify.