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Misinformation

This guide is designed to provide a clear and transparent foundation for misinformation, an incredibly knotty, complicated, and decidedly unclear topic.

How to evaluate a source

Step 1. Check and Identify: Get the First Impression
  • URL: Is the source recognizable or reputable? What is the domain name of the website (.gov, .edu, .org, .com, etc.)?
  • Date: When was the article written or updated? What time period is covered by the content?
  • Author: Is there an author? Is it a person or an organization?
  • About page: Does the website have an “About Us” page that describes who they are?
  • Links/citations to sources: Are there links or citations to other sources? Does it link to an internal or an external source?
  • Layout: Does it provide easy navigation? Does it contain too many distractions?
Step 2. Investigate and Discover: Gather More Evidence with the CRAAP Test
  • Currency: Is the article out of date for my topic? Can I find more current information?
  • Relevance: Does the content relate to my topic or answer my question? Is the source appropriate for research purposes?
  • Authority: Does the author(s) have education or experience that makes them an expert on this topic?
  • Accuracy: Is the information accurate? Where does it come from? Can I verify it with a source? Is the article under peer review or editorial review?
  • Purpose: What is the purpose of the website? What potential biases does it have?
Step 3. Read and Think: Use Lateral Reading and Critical Thinking Skills
  • Consult diverse sources: Have I looked at a variety of sources? Have I compared different perspectives?
  • Personal stories versus broader research: Is the source based on anecdotes or research? Is the research method valid and reliable? Who funds the research and what are their views and interest?
  • Logical reasoning versus fallacies: Are the arguments convincing? Does the evidence support the conclusion? Does it contain over generalizations?
  • Track evidence: Have I followed upstream and downstream sources (backward and forward citations) to gather all evidence? Can I reconcile the differences and form my own opinions?
Step 4. Reflect and Practice: Apply Metacognitive Skills and Reflective Practice
  • Pierce the filter bubbles: Am I surrounded by sources with the same views? Have I searched the other side of the story with opposite or neutral search terms?
  • Examine our own biases: Have I brought my own biases into source evaluation? Have I weighed the reasons from both sides? Do I favor this source because it affirms my belief?
  • Climb down the ladder of inference: Have I added personal or cultural meaning to understand the content? Are my assumptions or prior knowledge questionable? Have I come to the conclusion too quickly?
  • Practice what we learn: Have I applied the source evaluation strategies in real life? Am I aware of my own biases and cognitive limitations? Have I kept an open mind when forming my beliefs? Have I realized that a simple fact can be disruptive and suspend my judgment until I see the big picture?

The above strategy is from Liu, Pajewski, and McMullin's article "Evaluating Online Sources: Introducing a 4-Step Strategy" which can be found here: https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/26242/34195.

Liu, G., Pajewski, A., & McMullin, R. (2024). Evaluating Online Sources: Introducing a 4-Step Strategy. College & Research Libraries News, 85(3), 119. doi:https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.85.3.119

Tools for tracking or fact checking a source