Strategies for Evaluating Information: SIFT
ASK YOURSELF: DOES THIS SOURCE PASS THE SIFT TEST?
SIFT is a 4-step method to quickly ascertain the accuracy of any source by using fact-checkers' strategies of cross-referencing information. Since information often seeks us out (i.e. Google’s top results lists, social media, or phone news feeds), this strategy is helpful to evaluate any sort of information you might share personally, or use in academic writing.
Image credit: Check, Please! Starter Course Links to an external site.
Stop
- Before you share or use a source STOP. Ask yourself whether you know and trust the source of the information. If you don't, use the other steps below to get a sense of what you're looking at. Don't read it or share it until you know what it is.
Investigate the source
- What is the source's or author's reputation?
- Does this person or organization seem to be an expert in the field, a legitimate organization or a reputable media outlet?
- What does Wikipedia Links to an external site. say about this organization or publication? Wikipedia can often tell you what is the purpose of the organization and any political slant it may have that might color the information it disseminates.
Find trusted coverage
- Can you find similar coverage of the topic elsewhere? Are there other trusted sources (newspapers, reputable organizations, experts) that corroborate the information.
Trace claims, quotes and media to the original context
- Check the date. With fast-changing issues like the Covid-19 pandemic, information changes daily. Try to track down the original source of information, research paper, story or social media post.
- Does the original source substantiate the claim you found? Click through to the original source post and check.
- Find the original image. Do a reverse image search on Tineye Links to an external site. or Google Images Links to an external site.. There may be original context with the image or a more complete version of the image may be available.
- Fact check using trusted sites like Snopes Links to an external site. or FactCheck.org Links to an external site..
Adapted from Savvy Info Consumers: Social Media and Check, Please! Starter Course. Links to an external site.