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UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

UNIV 110U: First-Year Experience in University College

This guide will help students in University 110U with their library research assignments

Evaluating Sources Chart

Evaluating sources chart.  Questions to ask include: is this person an expert on this topic? can I verify their credentials in another source? could they have a bias? Is this organization an expert on this topic? What do other sources say about the reputation of this organization? Could this organization have a bias? Can I google this website to find out more about its reputation?

Using SIFT to Evaluate Sources

SIFT is an acronym that can help you remember a quick method for doing an initial evaluation of a website or other source.  The sift method was created by Michael Caulfield.

stop sign

 

"S" Stands for Stop:

  • Stop for a minute.
  • What do you know about this source?
  • What do you know about the reputation of the source?
  • Do you know enough to decide whether or not to use it?
  • Don't share or use a website unless you know for sure what it is.
  • If you don't know enough about the website, use the other steps of SIFT to find out more about it.   
magnifying glass

 

"I" stands for Investigate the Source:

  • Find out where the information in the source is coming from.
  • Do a quick google search for the name of the website.
  • Look up the website in Wikipedia to find out more about it.
  • Look up any authors listed in the source to investigate their expertise.
  • What can you find out about the reputation of this source?
  • Does the source seem worth using or sharing with others?
computer monitor with webpage displayed

 

"F" stands for Find Trusted Coverage (or Find Better Coverage):

If the reputation of the source doesn't impress you but you are still interested in the information:

  • Try searching for a better source on the same topic.
  • Try looking at multiple sources on the same topic.
  • Does there seem to be a consensus among experts on this topic?
  • What is the best source you can find on this topic?
puzzle pieces

 

"T" stands for Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to the Original Context:

Many things online are not in their original context, which can make it difficult to evaluate credibility.

  • Examine your source to see if it may have information that is out of context.
  • If your source contains images, are they from another source? 
  • Could videos or images in your source have been altered from the original?
  • If your source contains a video, can you trace where it is from?  
  • If your source contains quotations, can you check the original source?

 

Popular vs. Scholarly

For a quick review of common characteristics found in scholarly articles, watch this short video: