Media Literacy: Source Evaluation Methods

The S.I.F.T. method was developed by Mike Caulfield at Washington State University in Vancouver to provide students with a list of four simple steps to take when evaluating a source of information.

Stop

• Ask yourself  whether you know the website or the source of information.
• Don't read or share the information until you feel confident that it comes from a quality source.
• Know your purpose, as that will determine the extent of the research that you do into the source.

Investigate the Source

• Learn about the expertise of the author, including the credentials of the person or organization responsible for the piece.
• Learn about the agenda of the author, such the desire to persuade to a certain point of view or to sell a product.

Find Better Coverage

• Seek other sources that will help you evaluate the truthfulness of claims made in what you are reading.
• Learn whether there is much consensus or dispute about any claims made.

Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media Back to the Original Context

• Make every attempt to find the original source in order to be certain that nothing has been misrepresented or taken out of context. A quality source will often have a citation or hyperlink to the original.
• When doing a Google search, understand that the original source might not always be the first one that appears in the list of results.

Click here for more information on S.I.F.T.

Credit: Video summarizing the CRAAP Test from Vancouver Island University Library.

The CRAAP Test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose) is a list of criteria to help you evaluate websites.  

Currency - the timeliness of the information

• When was the information published or posted?
• Has the information been revised or updated?
• Is the information current or out-of date for your topic?
• Are the links functional?   

Relevance - the importance of the information for your needs

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information at an appropriate level for your needs?
• Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?

Authority - the source of the information

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
• What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
• What type of website is it (.com, .gov, .edu, .org)?

Accuracy - the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content

• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source?
• Are references/citations provided?
• Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?
• Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors? Poor graphic design and an excessive use of capital letters often indicate that the integrity of a site is questionable.

Purpose - the reason the information exists

• What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
• Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
• Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
• Is the website satire?

Credit: Evaluating Sources: The CRAAP Test