LibGuides: Evaluating Information: Home

Students often ask, “How do I evaluate a source?”

To start, keep these four points in mind:

Evaluating information isn’t a one-size-fits-all process — you play an active role in deciding how useful and credible a source is for your information need.
Not all evaluation questions are equally important — consider each one based on your information need.
Any source of information can be inaccurate, irrelevant, or incomplete, regardless of where you find it.
Most peer-reviewed sources will meet the criteria of scholarly publishing, but this doesn't mean that every article is free of bias or a good fit for your topic.

Evaluating information can be challenging and there are rarely easy answers. You must apply critical thinking to answering whether or not a source is credible and truly relevant to your need. The methods below are intended to help you meet those challenges with a step-by-step approach tailored to specific contexts.

Evaluating freely available sources via the web?

Start here

SIFT Method

The SIFT method is a way to evaluate any information you find, no matter the source, to determine whether it can be trusted and is a credible or reliable source of information. It was developed by Mike Caulfield, and is adapted here via with a CC BY 4.0 license.

S - Stop

Before you use or share a source, stop!

Ask yourself:

Do you know the website, journal, author, or company?
What is its reputation?
What is your purpose? How do you feel?
What are your biases about this source?

I - Investigate the Source

Make sure that the source you are about to use is reliable - by leaving it and thinking laterally.

Use trusted information to look up information about the author and publisher of your source.

Go beyond the "About Us" section or other information directly from the source's creators.
Use Wikipedia or Google to investigate the source and its creators.
Is this source worth your time to use?

F - Find Other Coverage

Most topics have multiple sources of information about it - go find them!

Find the most trustworthy sources for the information you want to use.

Can you find a better or more trusted source?
Can you find a more in-depth source?
What do trusted sources agree on about this topic?

T - Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to their Original Context

Find the origin of the claims, quotes, data, and other media you want to use.

Click through the links in your source, and use outside sources, to find the origin of the information.

Can you find the original source? What is its original context?
Did your original source fairly represent the information?
Does the extracted information support its original context, or is it being taken out of context?
Is information being cherry-picked to support an agenda or bias?

If you are still unsure about a specific source or have further questions about evaluating your sources, please reach out to a librarian via . . .

Evaluating other information sources?

Start here

CRAAP Method

The CRAAP Test Method

The CRAAP Test is a set of questions designed to help you evaluate the information you find. Different criteria may be more or less important depending on your situation or information need. The CRAAP Test was developed by the librarians at Meriam Library, California State University, Chico, and is adapted here via a CC BY 4.0 license.

C - CURRENCY

Evaluating the timeliness of the information:

When was this source published? Depending on your area of study, some material can quickly become outdated.
Has the information been challenged, revised, or superseded by more current data or a more recent edition?
Is the information considered current for your topic or information need?

R - RELEVANCE

Establishing the importance of the information to meet your information need:

Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
Who is the intended audience, and is the information at an appropriate level (not too basic or advanced) for your needs?
Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
Why is this source preferable to other sources or formats for your information need?

A - ACCURACY

Evaluating the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content:

Is the information supported by evidence, such as verifiable references or research data that you can check?
Has the information been refereed (peer-reviewed)?
Can you verify any of the information in another reputable source?

A - AUTHORITY

Questioning the source of the information:

Who is the author, publisher, or sponsor of the source?
What are the author's credentials and qualifications? Are they suitably qualified to write this piece?
Is there a conflict of interest or potential bias arising from the sponsor, author's employer, or owner of the source?
Is there a way to contact the author?
Does the publisher have a good reputation for academic publications?
Experts often consider the following questions when evaluating a publication:
- Is this a peer-reviewed journal?
- Is this journal well-respected in the subject field? There are lists that rank academic journals.
- How long has it been in publication?
- Is this the publication of a professional institution or society?
- Does it have an editorial board and advisers who have a publishing background?

P - PURPOSE

Knowing and understanding the reason the information exists:

Is this information meant to teach, inform, persuade, or entertain?
Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
Is there discussion of the theoretical background?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

Not all questions apply to every source — use your judgment based on your information need.