Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master of Sciences, Medical Library and Information Sciences, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Poursina Clinical Research Development, Rasht, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Knowledge and Information Sciences Department, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Library and Information Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Health Information Management Research Center, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Abstract
Background and Objectives: Websites are suitable tools for interaction among organizations and citizens. So, the main goal of each efficient website must be presenting high-quality information. embassies' websites should have high quality and interaction with each other so that effective information and communication channel is established between embassies' websites and their visitors. Quality Criteria of Website Quality Evaluation Tool include Content, Performance, Credibility, UpDating, Links, Graphics, Scope, Structure, and use of MetaTags. On the other hand, given that the embassies' websites have thematic and content subscriptions, the links between the websites will play an important role in the visibility of the websites. Determining the current status of the quality of the websites of Iranian embassies has led to the identification of their strengths and weaknesses and can be a way to a more successful and useful presence in cyberspace for visitors to use the content of the websites. The aim of this study was to determine embassies' websites status in terms of quality of embassies' websites and drawing their link network relationship.
Methodology: This study is an applied work, which was carried through surveys and webometric methods. The population consisted of 145 embassies' websites. Evaluations were done using the Website Quality Evaluation Tool and Webometric Analyst software. In this study, face validity was used to determine the validity, so that experts and professors in the field of website quality evaluation and mapping of network relations were consulted. Also, the reliability of the current measuring instrument was 95% of Cronbach's alpha, which showed very high reliability. The collected data were analyzed using Quality grade formula and descriptive statistics.
Step 1: Website Quality Assessment tool (WQAT) is used. Using this tool, each site is evaluated based on a checklist of website quality assessment tools. 9 criteria (Content, Performance, Credibility, UpDating, Links, Graphics, Scope, Structure, and use of MetaTags) and 38 components or features (37 components of a website quality assessment tool with a question asked by researchers) on websites Were investigated.
Step 2: The data collection tool in the second step was the free Webometric Analyst 2.0 software. First, the program is loaded from the LexiURL browser, Link Network Diagram option, In the second step, a text file with the names of the domains or URLs in each row was created using Notepad Windows with a similar text program. The browser starts the data collection phase and after a few minutes to half an hour, a report will be presented in the form of a set of pages.
Findings: The results of the findings showed that Out of the 145 studied embassies' websites, 131 embassies' websites had ranked as high-quality and reliable websites and 14 embassies' websites were ranked as websites with very good quality. The highest rankings in the High-Quality Score included the Libyan Embassy - Tripoli (82), followed by Hungary - Budapest (80) and India - The Hague (80). The lowest quality was related to the website of the Embassy of Afghanistan - Jalalabad. In examining the status of embassies' websites based on content criteria, most websites were in average poor condition (93.69), and the status of most embassies' websites in terms of performance criteria was very average (64.25). In terms of Credibility, embassies' websites are very weak (38.62), very strong (26.37), weak (18.79), moderately weak (8.44), very average (5.51), strong (24/2), respectively. In terms of UpDating, the websites of the embassies were very average (49.65), very poor (46.37), weak (3.27), and moderately weak (0.68), respectively.  In the survey based on Links, the websites of the embassies were moderately weak (94.25) and weak (5.74), respectively. In the Graphical survey, the status of most embassies' websites was very average (80.91).  In the Domain-Based survey, the majority of embassies' websites were moderately weak (66.66). In terms of Structure, embassies' websites were moderately weak (99.65) and weak (0.34), respectively. In the survey based on the MetaTags feature, the embassies' websites were in very poor (95.86) and excellent (4.13) positions, respectively. Moreover, in inspecting embassies' websites using Webometric Analyst software, no link network relationship was found between the embassies' websites Based on interaction and communication links together.
Discussion:  In general, recommended that designers of these websites focus on quality criteria as well as their link network of relationships. Since the embassies' websites are an important source of information for many people, the issue of quality and their network relationships is very important. In general, the research results showed that web designers have, to some extent, paid attention to website quality criteria (Content, Performance, Credibility, UpDating, Links, Graphics, Scope, Structure, and use of MetaTags), but paid no attention to establishing network relationship.
 

Keywords

Agrin, O., & Nwagwu, W. (2006). Links and Web Impact Analysis of Nigerian University. International Conference on Bridging the Digital Divide in Scholarly Communication in the South: Threats and Opportunities; 6-8 sep; Africa. University of Leiden, the Netherlands: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and Centre for African Studies.
Al-Tikriti, M. (2012). Reforming a website: Case-Embassy of Iraq.
Asnafi, A. R. (2014). Study of Link networks of NAJA Websites. Caspian Journal of Scientometrics, 1 (2), 32-38. [In Persian]
Cheung, C., & Lee, M. (‌2008). The structure of web-based information systems satisfaction: testing of competing model. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 59 (10), 1617-30.
Farhadpour, M. & Khalaf Abadi, R. (2015). Qualitative Evaluation of Iranian Children and Young Adult's Websites Using "Web-QEM" Model. National Studies on Librarianship and Information Organization, 26 (2), 91-110. [In Persian]
Grigoroudis, E., Litos, C., Moustakis, V., Politis, Y., & Tsironis, L. (‌2008). The assessment of user-perceived web quality: application of a satisfation benchmarking approach. European Journal of Operational Research, 187 (3)‌, 1346-57.
Hassanzadeh, M. & Navidi, F. (2009). Comparative study of Iran's Ministerial websites using www3 criteria and User's experience. Studies in Education and Psychology, 10 (2), 135. [In Persian]  
Hassanzadeh, M., & Fatemeh Navidi. (2010). Introduction to Webometrics: Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences. Tehran: Librarian. [In Persian].
Jeyashree, S., & Ravichandran, R. (2013). Perspectives of Webometric Tools for Web Impact Assessment Studies: A Review. International Journal of Library Science, 2 (2), 43-48.
Kappel, G., Proll, B., Reich, S., & Retschitzegger, W. (‌‌2006). Web Engineering: The Discipline of Systematic Development of Web Applications. Wiley, Hoboken, NJ.
Khazaal, Y., Fernandez, S., Cochand, S., Reboh, I., & Zullino, D. (2008). Quality of web based information on social phobia: a cross sectional study. Depression and anxiety, 25 (5), 461-465.
Kothainayaki, S, & Gopalakrishnan, S.‌‌) ‌2011(. Webometric analysis of ‌agricultural universities in India. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 4 (3), 207-14.
Mardaninezhad, A., Farhadi, I., Khanjani, T. & Amirimoghadam, M. (2012). Evaluating the Qualities of Virtual Websites of the Medical Science Universities. Strides in Development of Medical Education, 9 (2), 179-190. [In Persian]
Nabatali, G. & Jalali Dizaji, A. (2011). Evaluating the Provincial Websites of Iran Public Libraries Foundation: A Webometric Study. Research on Information Scienc & Public Libraries, 17 (65), 197-225. [In Persian]
Naik, K., & Tripathy, P. (2008). Software Testing and Quality Assurance. Wiley, Hoboken, NJ.
Noroozi, Z. & Hashemzadeh, M. J. (2013). A Link Network Analysis of Iranian Research Institute Websites: Overt and Covert Relationships. Information Sciences & Technology, 29 (1), 211-232. [In Persian]
Nouri Afkand, A., Motalebi,D. & Alipour hafezi, M. (2013). Assessment of LIS journal's website based on website quality evaluation tools (WQET) and presentation of offered pattern. Journal of Information Systems and Services, 2 (3), 1-12. [In Persian]
Osareh, F., & Papi, Z. (2009). Quality of library websites: Review of criteria and tools. Journal of National Studies on Librarianship and Information Organization, 20 (2), 275. [In Persian]
Osareh, F., & Papi, Z. (2008). Quality Assessment of Library Website of Iranian State Universities in order to provide suggestions to improve their quality. Information Sciences & Technology, 23 (4), 35-69. [In Persian]
Papi, z, & Abazari, z. (2014). Using WQET to Evaluate Asian and Middle Eastern Countries National Libraries Websites. National Studies on Librarianship and Information Organization, 25 (3),7. [In Persian]
Radad, I., & Haghshenas, S. (2012). Evaluation of clarity criteria of purposes and audiences, performance, updating, reliability and navigation in the websites of Iran public publishers by using WQET method. Journal of printing and publishing, 2 (4), 39. [In Persian]
Rocha, Á. (‌2012). FWebQ–A Framework for Websites Quality Evaluation. Online Information Review, 36(3), 61-71.
Stuart, D., Thelwall, M., & Harries, G. ‌(2007).‌UK academic web links and collaboration: an exploratory study. Journal of Information Science, 33 (2), 231-246.
Tabatabaei Amiri, F.S., & Khaleghi, N. (2015). Quality assessment of women's Farsi websites. Journal of Sciences and Techniques of Information Management, 1 (1), 68-87. [In Persian]
Teimouri, M., Khoshnafs, H., & Nabizadeh Givi, S. (2015). The Quality Study of Provincial Websites of Iranian Public Libraries Foundation with WQET and Suggestions to Improve. Research on Information Science & Public Libraries, 21 (80), 153-176. [In Persian]
Thelwall, M., Sud, P., & Wilkinson, D. ‌(2012). Link and co-in link network diagrams with URL citations or title mentions. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 63 (4), 805-16.
Vaughan, L., Kipp, M., & Gao, Y. ‌(2007). Why are websites co-linked? The case of Canadian universities. Scientometrics, 72 (10), 81-92.
Zahedi, SH. (2010). Assessing Quality of Websites: Instrumentation and Criteria. Journal of Development & Evolution Management, 4, 6-15. [In Persian]