University of Kwazulu-Natal

Libguides Evaluating Sources And Identifying Fake News Sift

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
libguides evaluating sources and identifying fake news sift

SIFT is an easy four-step process that will help you determine if a source is trustworthy or not. Most of the information regarding the SIFT method is originated by Mike Caulfield, who is currently the Director of Blended and Networked Learning at Washington State University, Vancouver. S STOP: Before you share or use a source, ask yourself : "Am I familiar with this source? Does it have a good reputation? Do I know this claim is factual? If not, go on to the next steps.

Also, think about your purpose. Is this for a research paper or just for entertainment? The purpose will determine how thoroughly you should evaluate the source. I INVESTIGATE the source: Is the author an expert on the subject? What is their motivation? Are they trying to sway my opinion, sell me something or just present facts?

F FIND trusted coverage: Sometimes you're just interested in the claim, not the author. What do trusted sources say about the claim, what's the general consensus? Do a search to find the most trusted source on this topic. T TRACE claims, quotes, and media back to the original context: So much online has been stripped of context. Sometimes a video may depict something entirely different from what's claimed, important parts are edited out, or the video is manipulated in some way. You can use Google and Google Reverse Image Search to help find the original context.

Now that you’ve found a source, how do you know whether to believe what it’s telling you? No source is inherently perfect, but some are more credible than others. The credibility of a source depends in part on the author (Do they know anything about this subject?), the method used to produce the information (Do they cite sources or justify their claims?), and... Is there a comments section?). One method for investigating the credibility of a source is to use the steps of SIFT: What is SIFT (Infographic) This link opens in a new window

The SIFT information presented has been adapted from materials by Mike Caulfield with a CC BY 4.0 This link opens in a new window license. Check out Shapiro Library's Emily Evaluates series! Emily Evaluates with SIFT is a 6 part narrative series of 1-2 minute videos in which a college student named Emily investigates accusations of fraud made against one of her professors using the SIFT... Follow along as Emily applies the SIFT steps in a real world scenario! SIFT is a source evaluation methodology created by Mike Caulfield, a misinformation researcher. SIFT is a four-step method that helps you quickly evaluate online information by focusing your attention on what matters.

The four moves—Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, and Trace claims to the original context—guide you in identifying reliable sources, avoiding misinformation, and amplifying accurate content. By applying these moves with simple web techniques, you can become a more discerning consumer of information and resist the pull of clickbait. The SIFT method is especially helpful for evaluating news, social media, or other online media. SIFT is a series of actions you can take to determine the validity and reliability of claims and sources on the web. SIFT is an additional set of skills to build on checklist approaches to evaluating online content. The SIFT method, or strategy, is quick, simple, and can be applied to various kinds of online content: news articles, scholarly articles, social media posts, videos, images, etc.

Each letter in SIFT corresponds to one of the Four Moves: Modified from Mike Caulfield's SIFT (Four Moves), which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Ask yourself whether you know and trust the website or source of the information. Feel yourself getting overwhelmed in your fact-checking efforts? STOP and take a second to remind yourself what your goal is. “Good” sources include those that provide complete, current, factual information, and/or credible arguments based on the information creator’s original research, expertise, and/or use of other reliable sources.

Whether a source is a good choice for you depends on your information needs and how you plan to use the source. The SIFT* & PICK approach to evaluating sources helps you select quality sources by practicing: Lateral Reading (SIFT): fact-checking by examining other sources and internet fact-checking tools; and Vertical Reading (PICK): examining the source itself to decide whether it is the best choice for your needs. If you have any questions or wish to contact the CCCS Online Librarians, please use the contact information on the Library page. The SIFT method is an evaluation strategy developed by digital literacy expert, Mike Caulfield, to help determine whether online content can be trusted for credible or reliable sources of information.

All SIFT information on this page is adapted from his materials with a CC BY 4.0 license. Determining if resources are credible is challenging. Use the SIFT method to help you analyze information, especially news or other online media. Before you read or share an article or video, STOP!​ Be aware of your emotional response to the headline or information in the article. Headlines are often meant to get clicks, and will do so by causing the reader to have a strong emotional response.

SIFT works great for fighting fake news and evaluating popular sources likes news broadcasts, news sites or newspapers, social media posts, and "viral" information. The SIFT Method is an evaluation method refined by Mike Caulfield. This method encourages us to think critically about sources before sharing the information. Fake news is created for many reasons, but its effect is predictable-- whatever the factual, unbiased, authoritative facts are, they are drowned out by alternative narratives. Herbert Simon (as quoted in Parrish, 2013) says, "What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients.

Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." Fake news is intentional misinformation via print, broadcast, or social media. The intent of fake news is to deceive its audience for financial or political gain. During the 2016 US presidential election, however, "fake news" was a term used by Donald Trump and right-wing supporters to discredit information with which they disagreed, like opinion poll percentages, regardless of factual accuracy. Whether you’re writing a research paper, sharing a post online, or just trying to understand a topic, taking time to evaluate your sources helps you make informed decisions and avoid misinformation. This chapter introduces the SIFT method, a simple set of steps that can help you quickly determine whether a source is reliable.

You’ll also learn about lateral reading, a strategy professional fact-checkers use to investigate unfamiliar sources by looking outside the source itself. Together, these tools will help you become a smarter, more critical, and more confident information user. Before you read or watch something, stop and ask yourself: “Do I know and trust this source?” If not, use the other SIFT steps to learn more about it. Stopping can also be helpful during the investigation process. If you find yourself falling down an internet rabbit hole or feeling overwhelmed, pause and remind yourself of your goal.

What do you really need to know? Are you getting closer to that goal or just clicking around aimlessly? Refocus if needed. These four moves from Verified by Mike Caulfield and Sam Wineburg (2024) will help you go deeper in assessing the quality of your sources. As you investigate sources, you might ask these questions: When encountering a news or information source, ask yourself...

Does the source have an Editorial Policy? Does it follow a Code of Ethics? Lack of an explicit and prominent editorial policy or a statement of ethical standards is a red flag. High-quality, investigative news sources have explicit editorial policies and follow a code of ethics or professional standards. In the digital world, evaluating the credibility of sources is crucial for forming well-informed opinions. Not all information online is created equal; understanding how to assess sources helps you separate fact from fiction.

Evaluating sources involves more than a quick glance at the website’s design or popularity. It requires a thoughtful examination of the content’s origin, purpose, and credibility. Becoming familiar with reliable fact-checking tools and developing your verification routine will strengthen your ability to spot trustworthy information. Use these investigative steps to assess the trustworthiness of a source: These trusted platforms are valuable allies in verifying information: Choose a viral news story or social media post.

Use at least two fact-checking tools to verify its accuracy. Share your findings with a peer or in class discussion. Reflect on how this process influences your view of the story.

People Also Search

SIFT Is An Easy Four-step Process That Will Help You

SIFT is an easy four-step process that will help you determine if a source is trustworthy or not. Most of the information regarding the SIFT method is originated by Mike Caulfield, who is currently the Director of Blended and Networked Learning at Washington State University, Vancouver. S STOP: Before you share or use a source, ask yourself : "Am I familiar with this source? Does it have a good re...

Also, Think About Your Purpose. Is This For A Research

Also, think about your purpose. Is this for a research paper or just for entertainment? The purpose will determine how thoroughly you should evaluate the source. I INVESTIGATE the source: Is the author an expert on the subject? What is their motivation? Are they trying to sway my opinion, sell me something or just present facts?

F FIND Trusted Coverage: Sometimes You're Just Interested In The

F FIND trusted coverage: Sometimes you're just interested in the claim, not the author. What do trusted sources say about the claim, what's the general consensus? Do a search to find the most trusted source on this topic. T TRACE claims, quotes, and media back to the original context: So much online has been stripped of context. Sometimes a video may depict something entirely different from what's...

Now That You’ve Found A Source, How Do You Know

Now that you’ve found a source, how do you know whether to believe what it’s telling you? No source is inherently perfect, but some are more credible than others. The credibility of a source depends in part on the author (Do they know anything about this subject?), the method used to produce the information (Do they cite sources or justify their claims?), and... Is there a comments section?). One ...

The SIFT Information Presented Has Been Adapted From Materials By

The SIFT information presented has been adapted from materials by Mike Caulfield with a CC BY 4.0 This link opens in a new window license. Check out Shapiro Library's Emily Evaluates series! Emily Evaluates with SIFT is a 6 part narrative series of 1-2 minute videos in which a college student named Emily investigates accusations of fraud made against one of her professors using the SIFT... Follow ...