Use the SIFT method for evaluating digital sources. (More about SIFT)
SIFT
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STOP
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- Check your emotions - if your first response to information is emotional, take a moment before you do anything.
- What do you know about the source?
- What do you know about the information?
- Try the other steps before you commit, share, or repost.
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| Investigate |
- Who wrote it and why?
- Who is the speaker, author, or publisher? What is the purpose or the agenda for supplying the information? Who supports them (where does the money come from)? What is the expertise, education, experience behind the information?
- If you don't know or can't find out, try to Google the person or organization, or check Wikipedia.
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| Find better coverage |
- Look for the information in other trusted sources.
- Check in at least 3 other places to verify accuracy and coverage.
- Is there more reliable or in-depth information elsewhere? Use that instead!
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| Trace to original source |
- Dig deeper to find the original source for the claim and verify how the information is used or reused.
- Check for expert consensus or historical context.
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