Engineering

Checklist approaches to evaluating information can lead to simplistic and inaccurate “it’s good” or “it’s bad” conclusions. Don’t focus so much on good and bad sources; instead, think in terms of whether the sources you find are good for your information needs, and ask yourself why you trust them. Interrogate your sources with these questions: 

• Does the source fit your needs, helping you to answer your questions? 
• What is the date of your source? Does it matter how recent your information is?
• Is the source interesting and readable, and neither too basic nor too complex? 
• Does the source meet your instructor's expectations?
• What are some signs that the author is qualified to write about the topic? 
• Can you track down any information about the author or the publisher (the organization that creates books, journals, and websites) outside the source that makes it more suspicious or more credible? 
• Is the source meant to inform, teach, sell, entertain, offer an opinion, or persuade its audience? Is this purpose clear, and does it affect the accuracy of the information? 
• Why do you trust this source?

For your real-life personal information needs and civic responsibilities, work like a professional factchecker by using the SIFT method to evaluate information you find (or for information that finds you).

SIFT: Stop - Investigate the source - Find better coverage - Trace the claim to its original context