Ranking and determining the core websites of Islamic Azad University's comprehensive and state branches using webometrics method

Subject Areas : Journal of Knowledge Studies

alireza isfandyari moghadam ¹ , farshid danesh ² , faramarz sohili ³

1 - Department of Library and Information Science, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch;
2 - Department of Library and Information Studies, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
3 - Department of Library and Information Studies, Payamenour University, Kermanshah

Received: 2008-04-04 Accepted : 2008-08-08 Published : 2009-08-23

Keywords: Islamic Azad University, Website, Webometrics, Web Impact Factor (WIF), Clustering analysis, Multi Dimensional Scaling, Core Websites,

Abstract :

This research mainly aims to investigate visibility, Web Impact Factor (WIF), and the collaboration rate of the websites of 36 Iranian Islamic Azad Universities which are comprehensive or located in centers of provinces. The current method applied in this type of research is the process of link analysis, which is a webometrics method. In this process, "in-links", "self-links", and "co-links" of the websites under study were summed and then cluster and multiple dimensional scaling were applied. To collect needed data Yahoo subject directory was utilized. The research findings indicated that websites of South Tehran with 2710 in-links, Karaj with 2560 in-links, and Tabriz with 1350 in-links were the most visited sites; the websites belonging to Khorram-Abad (10.34381) and Khorasgan (0.188561) made the most and the least revisited WIF, respectively; the websites belonging to Khorram-Abad (10.57303) and Khorasgan (0.212915) made the most and the least total WIF, respectively. It is notable that 10 websites were chosen as core websites. According to findings, it is necessary that website managers and designers outline plans for the improvement of the quality and content of their websites, recognizing the factors required by the website in order to attract links. Finally, some recommendations for the improvement of the websites, and some further research have been indicated.