Common Characteristics of NIDRR Grantee's Web Sites

NIDRR grantees’ use of the World Wide Web as a dissemination tool has grown quickly and currently reflects an aspect of NIDRR grant activity of approximately 58 percent of all grantees. A doubling in the overall number of NIDRR grantee Web sites—from 88 in mid-1996 to 176 at the close of 1997—parallels an accompanying trend in general WWW growth that has been and continues to be exponential. During the second half of 1993, the Web doubled every three months, and currently is doubling in a period of less than six months (Gray, 1995, 1996a, 1996b).

In light of this trend, the NCDDR decided to analyze grantees' Web sites to profile their common characteristics. NCDDR staff analyzed 171 NIDRR grantee Web sites for the frequency of certain characteristics and for their overall accessibility.

The NCDDR chose 20 characteristics to use in the analysis procedures. These characteristics were chosen for their objective nature. NCDDR staff participating in the analysis engaged in several practice sessions to increase inter-rater reliability. The characteristics chosen for use in the analysis stemmed from a discussion in The Research Exchange  (NCDDR, 1997a), addressing the "communication power" of a WWW site. From these general categories, the NCDDR staff chose the following observable NIDRR grantee Web site characteristics:

• Access Icons--inclusion of symbols indicating accessibility for users with disabilities, e.g. Bobby Approved, NCAM Globe icons
• Audio--inclusion of audio snippets as part of the Web site
• Animation--inclusion of moving graphics
• Copyright--inclusion of a copyright symbol
• Disclaimer--inclusion of a statement that the views expressed did not necessarily reflect the views of the Government and general responsibility for content of site
• Forms/E-mail--inclusion of feedback channels such as forms or electronic mail links
• Frames--inclusion of multiple "window panes" on a single Web page
• Interactive Dimensions--inclusion of special features to promote interaction among Web site users, e.g. chat rooms, bulletin boards, or other interactive elements
• Graphics Only--inclusion of only graphics to communicate information through the Web site
• Links to NCDDR--inclusion of a hypertext link to the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR)
• Links to NIDRR--inclusion of a hypertext link to the homepage of National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
• Links to NIDRR Projects--Inclusion of one or more links to other projects funded by the NIDRR
• Navigation Tools--inclusion of "buttons" or other devices to assist users in moving around to major areas of a Web site
• NIDRR Acknowledged--inclusion of a statement that the Web site was an extension of a project funded by the NIDRR
• Search Engine Availability--inclusion of one or more search engines as part of the Web site design
• Text and Graphics--inclusion of both text and graphics within the Web site
• Text Only--inclusion of only text, with no graphics or inclusion of an alternative text-only site
• Update Notice--inclusion of a date indicating the last revision to the site
• Video--inclusion of video snippets as part of the Web site

NCDDR staff reviewed all grantee Web sites during the period from November 11-20, 1997. Sites that could not be accessed on the first attempt were re-tried the following day. Sites that could not be accessed the second day were not included in the review. Of the 175 Web sites, only four were unable to be accessed by NCDDR staff during the timeframe of the review.

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