CRE 103, Czajkowski: SIFT

Pause and examine a source before using it

Before reading or engaging with a source (website, article, book, etc.) from an author or site that is unknown to you do a quick evaluation of it to ensure it's legitimate and reliable.

• Examine the steps below to see what actions you can take.
• Using inaccurate information in a research project could cause complications or lead to a lesser grade.
• Sharing inaccurate information with others could reflect poorly on you.
• The goal is to use high-quality information.

Investigate the source to assess its reputation and potential for bias

• Open a new web browser window and explore search engines, Wikipedia, and other sites to quickly gather information.
• Find information about the publisher/website. Is it a reputable organization? Try these sites to gather information:
  • Media Bias Fact Check - explore bias and accuracy ratings.
  • AllSides Media Bias Ratings - explore bias and accuracy ratings.
  • Wikipedia - good for information on notable people, publishers, and news sources.
• Find out more about the author.
  • Does the author have the background, training, or experience to quality as an expert?
  • Do they have a history of being reliable? Do they work for a reputable organization or are they a random, unknown person?

Look for coverage of the topic from trusted sources

A quick search in a library database or search engine can lead you to higher quality sources to confirm claims made in unknown or untrusted sites.

• Search reputable news sources for articles as journalists regularly do fact-checking before publishing.
• Explore fact-checking sites like Snopes, Politifact, FactCheck.org, and Lead Stories to verify claims.
• Use a library research database to access higher quality sources without a paywall.

Locate the original source of any claims, research data, or quotes

Information can be distorted or misinterpreted when it is shared outside of its original context. If you encounter quotes, statistics, or other information that is attributed to another source, finding the original source of that information will allow you to verify its accuracy.

• Look for clues such as names of quoted people or titles of journals where research was published and use them to run searches to track down the original source.
• Explore search engines to see if a copy of the original source can be found.
• Search Library publications using tools like our journal finder or specific research databases that contain thousands of publications.
• Contact a librarian for assistance in finding sources