Frameworks for Evaluating Sources
Evaluate Sources and Fact-check Claims
Web evaluation techniques can help you assess accuracy of claims by guiding you through a series of questions to ask about a source or actions to take as you're researching.
Below are several several frameworks for evaluating online information to choose from.
The SIFT method is an strategy developed by digital literacy expert, Mike Caulfield, to aid in evaluating claims found in online media. SIFT stands for Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, and Trace claims, quotes, and media to their original context.The University of Chicago Library hosts a guide that outlines the SIFT method.
The CRAAP Test is a strategy developed by California State University, Chico, to help evaluate web sources using the criteria Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose. Each criterion includes questions to evaluate the nature and value of online information. The University of Chicago also has a guide on the CRAAP test.
The 5W questions provide a series of questions around Who, What, When, Where, Why, to evaluate information, which includes guidance on evaluating how the information creator cites their sources and how to be reflective about why you would choose to one source over another. Consumnes River College Library provides a worksheet walking you through questions using this framework.
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