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Evaluating the credibility of a source is an important way of sifting out misinformation and determining whether you should use it in your research.
Evaluating the credibility of a source is an important way of sifting out misinformation and determining whether you should use it in your research.
This 5-minute video from Behind the News Australia explains why fake news spreads so fast and how you can be part of the solution.
This 5-minute video from Behind the News Australia explains why fake news spreads so fast and how you can be part of the solution.
Fake News Video 5m from .mp4The first strategy you should use is SIFT
The first strategy you should use is SIFT
This 4-minute video walks you through the SIFT strategy
This 4-minute video walks you through the SIFT strategy
How do you investigate the source? Try this strategy called "lateral reading."
How do you investigate the source? Try this strategy called "lateral reading."
Does the URL help me determine credibility?
Does the URL help me determine credibility?
The end of the URL might have a Top-Level Domain (TLD) that is recognizable.
Open TLDs like .com or .org are widely accessible and can be purchased easily. They don't tell you if something is credible or not, but they do give you an idea of the purpose of the site.
Restricted TLDs cannot be purchased by the general public, so you know who is publishing the information.
.gov: US government agencies
.mil: US military
.edu: Accredited US colleges and universities
.int: International treaty-based organizations (like NATO or the UN)
Country Code TLDs are governed by the countries themselves. This means each country decides to what extent its domain is "Restricted" or "Open."
.zm: Zambia (restricted)
.ai: Anguilla (Open)
Another way to investigate the source is to use a fact checker, such as BBC Verify, Politifact, or Snopes.
Another way to investigate the source is to use a fact checker, such as BBC Verify, Politifact, or Snopes.
Click on the check marks to view a list of fact checkers. Some can help you verify what politicians say or whether or not something is fake news or an urban myth.
Click on the check marks to view a list of fact checkers. Some can help you verify what politicians say or whether or not something is fake news or an urban myth.
Even credible sources have bias. Look at a news source in one of these bias checkers to see if they lean politically left or right.
Even credible sources have bias. Look at a news source in one of these bias checkers to see if they lean politically left or right.
The OPVL framework is often used in history to evaluate primary sources. But it is helpful for many kinds of sources--primary and secondary.
The OPVL framework is often used in history to evaluate primary sources. But it is helpful for many kinds of sources--primary and secondary.
If you're confident your source is from a legit site, and you're aware of its bias, then you can critique its content further with the CRAAP test.
If you're confident your source is from a legit site, and you're aware of its bias, then you can critique its content further with the CRAAP test.
from the Meriam Library, California State University, Chico. Image source: https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/c.php?g=698530&p=4961329
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