Dependability Checklist
To help you evaluate articles and information you find for your assessments and research, we have created a Dependability Checklist! It can help you make decisions about the dependability, credibility and trustworthiness of the sources you are considering using in your assessments.
The checklist contains ten questions to get you thinking critically about the resource in front of you. Once you have developed the skills, you won’t need to rely on the checklist.
Each question asks for your YES or NO response about a particular feature of your resource. More YES answers result in a higher dependability score.
But remember evaluation is a critical thinking skill, not a formula! You may have a good reason to keep a source that has scored lower.
The SIFT Method
The SIFT Method is a simple 4-step method to help you evaluate information that you find on the web. This method, based on fact-checking strategies, helps you to quickly make a decision about whether or not a source is worthy of your attention.
SIFT Method Information and Graphics from Chapter 17: The SIFT Method Introduction to College Research
Stop!
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When you find a source - STOP!
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Do you know and trust the author, publisher, publication or website?
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Stopping before reading allows you to assess the source before you read too much and fall prey to confirmation bias
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If you do not, move onto 'I' - Investigate the source.
Investigate the Source
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Get off the web page to see what others have said about the source
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Open some new tabs in your browser and do a Google and Wikipedia search to see what you can find about the source
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Watch the short video below for a demonstration of this strategy
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If the source is low quality, unreliable or cannot be verified, move to 'F' - Find Better Coverage
Find Better Coverage
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Look for another source that includes trusted reporting on analysis on the same claim
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You can think of this as 'trading up' for a higher quality source
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Over time, you will build your own knowledge base of trusted sources
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If you aren't able to find an alternative source but would still like to cover the point of view, move on to 'T' - Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to the Original Context
Trace Claims, Quotes and Media to the Original Context
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If your original source makes claims or quotes, trace them back to where they came from
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To trace claims, look for references, hyperlinks or phrases such as "according to..." - then follow these up
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Does your source accurately present the original context?
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Often, the original reporting or quote is a better option for you to use
Develop your 'Investigate' technique
Fact checking is a key skill in the Investigate step of the SIFT Method. Watch this video where SIFT creator Mike Caulfield explains how to quickly and easily fact check a source.
Note
More videos and details on can be found in Chapter 17: The SIFT Method in the eBook Introduction to College Research