Scholarly misconduct and misinformation on the World Wide Web

Abstract

The World Wide Web is a potentially powerful channel for misinformation. Focusing upon scholarly misconduct as a source of misinformation, examines the potential impact of misinformation on the Web. Floridi has suggested three methods of countering misinformation on the Web: quality certification of information sources; limiting monopolies controlling information resources on the Web; and greater information literacy among Web users. Focus groups composed of LIS faculty and research students in Singapore discussed this topic. Members of the groups felt that there was sufficient motivation for trying to publish the results of scholarly misconduct on the Web. Group members agreed that greater information literacy was a good way to counter misinformation. They did not believe that quality certification would stop misinformation, and that there was a danger that a certifying group would become a censoring body. Focus group members said that greater plurality would decrease misinformation. Some argued that large and prestigious publishers should be welcomed on to the Web rather than opposed.