Evaluating Information Page
These resources below provide tips and methods for verifying information you find. Find an approach that works for you and remember to think critically when examining information!
Online Verification Methods (Smarter in Seconds, SIFT, & CRAAP)
Only have a few moments? Smarter in Seconds from educator Blair Imani is a great option to sharpen your information verification skills!
Digital Literacy Expert Mike Caulfield developed the SIFT method to better evaluate the trustworthiness of online content. Use these steps to sift through the mess of online content and find credible information. You can also read our blog post about SIFT.
All SIFT information on this page is adapted from his materials with a CC BY 4.0 license.
Don't read or share until you know what it is. Take a moment to consider what you're looking at before engaging.
Video introduction to the SIFT method for evaluating online information
Know the website and its reputation before you trust the information it provides.
Video demonstrating how to research and verify information sources
Look for trusted reporting or analysis on the same topic from reliable news sources or fact-checkers.
Video showing how to locate reliable coverage of news stories and claims
Follow claims, quotes, and statistics back to their original source to verify accuracy and context.
Video demonstrating how to trace information back to original sources
California State University Librarian Sarah Blakslee created the CRAAP test as a convenient evaluation method for verifying information. Use these steps to determine the quality of information you're examining.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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CRAAPThe CRAAP Test is a list of questions to
help you evaluate the information you find. Different criteria will be more or less important depending on
your situation or need.
Currency
The timeliness of the information- When was the information published or posted?
- Has the information been revised or updated?
- Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
- Are the links functional?
Relevance
The importance of the information for your needs- Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
- Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
- Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?
Authority
The source of the information- Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
- What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
- Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
- Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
- Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?
URL examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net
Accuracy
The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content- Where does the information come from?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
- Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
- Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
- Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
Purpose
The reason the information exists- What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
- Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
- Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
- Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?
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