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Research Process: Evaluate Sources

What you need to know to start researching a topic for a paper or project.

Evaluating Social Media & Web Resources

Evaluating Websites

Fact-Checking Resources

Check, Please! Mini Course

Want to learn more about the SIFT method? Enroll in the free online information literacy course, Check Please!

This 5-part course is only about 2.5 hours long and suitable for college-level coursework. Parts can also be used and changed for use in the classroom, see the site for more information on adapting it to your own courses!

The SIFT method

Developed by Mike Caulfield at the University of Washington, the SIFT method in a newer evaluation tool to help determine whether online content can be trusted for credible or reliable sources of information. This method is similar to Lateral Reading in that it relies on using the internet to investigate information, images, articles, etc. YOU find online!

STOP

Before you read, share, respond etc. to something you find online STOP and take a moment to ask yourself if you trust a source. Why do you or don't you trust it, and move on to the other steps in the method.

INVESTIGATE the source

Look for the creators/source of the item you're evaluating. Who are they? Do they have the background/ authority on the subject? Could they have an agenda/mission?  

FIND better coverage

Sometimes your original source will be good enough, but others you may need to find more resources on a topic. Are their other credible sources on the subject, supporting or disputing the original source you found? Can you find a more credible source? 

You can use Fact Checkin websites (see the box to the left) or even a reverse Google Image search depending on what you're looking into.

TRACE claims, quotes, and media back to the original context

Does your source have quotes from experts or research results? Hyperlinks? Can you verify where the information comes from in your source by tracing them back to their original sources. If so, is your source cherry-picking or taking things out of context to fill an agenda?

SIFT Method

Evaluate your Sources

When you look at an information source - whether it's an article or an entertainment news story - you should evaluate its content. An easy way to do this is to run it through the CRAAP test. The CRAAP test is a list of evaluation criteria (explained below) that will ensure you are finding factual information and using relevant, timely sources.

CURRENCY

  • Do I need current or historical information?  Is this the most updated source I can find? Or is this source from the proper time frame to serve as a historical resource? 
  • Has this information been revised or changed since it was published?
  • Bottom line: does this offer appropriately current or historical information?

RELEVANCE

  • Does this information help me accomplish the purpose of my paper/work?
  • Does this easily relate to my topic?
  • Does this information strengthen my argument or statements?
  • Bottom line: is this a source that adds value to my work? Is it worth including?

AUTHORITY

  • Who is the author? What expertise do they have -- knowledge, education, experience?  
  • Who is the publisher? Why have they made this information available?
  • Does the author or published have any motivation or bias for their work?
  • Bottom line: can you trust this author to know what they're talking about? Is this person the best source that you can find on this topic?

ACCURACY

  • Is this information correct? Reliable?
  • Can this information be verified in other sources?
  • What methods did they use to collect this information/data? How did they draw their conclusions?
  • Do they list their sources? Are these sources academic/scholarly/credible?
  • Bottom line: can you trust that this information is true?

PURPOSE

  • Why was this written? Why does this information exist? Why was it made public? 
  • What was the writer's purpose? The publisher's purpose?
  • Are there any hints of bias? Is the author up front about this bias?
  • Is this information trying to persuade or influence you?
  • Bottom line: understanding the purpose of the source can ensure that you do not fall prey to biased or one-sided information.