Information comes in a variety of formats– tweets, Wikipedia articles, newspaper articles, books, peer-reviewed articles and more. For academic sources, the main way they are assessed for credibility, bias, and accuracy is through the peer review process. Learn more about peer review in the Databases & Search Skills module.

Regardless of the type of source, it is critical to evaluate all sources for credibility, bias, expertise/privilege, and accuracy. These key criteria make up many of the common strategies for evaluating information in academic contexts. The UW Libraries Communication research guide recommends four methods for information evaluation. In this module, we will cover two specific strategies for evaluating information: ACT UP and SIFT.

These strategies are proactive and require you, as the researcher, to consider the greater information landscape and how relevant the information is to your research topic. Researchers seek out information sources, but information also finds us through sophisticated algorithms, research tools, social media, and general sharing via social networks. As a researcher, you can choose which evaluation strategy works for your research needs and your strategy may grow and change as your evaluation skills deepen over time. Remember, your research is only as trustworthy as the sources that you include!

Credibility

Credibility refers to the author or creator’s ability to be believed or trusted- who they are, what they value, and their reputation all factor into their overall credibility. Taking into account the author’s experience, what organization or institution they represent, and how you view their authority in relation to the topic are all important elements of evaluating credibility.

Bias

Bias can be defined as a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment or prejudice. All sources have some level of bias, so you should consider how the information is presented, what implicit or explicit biases exist, and if your own biases (sometimes called confirmation bias) drives which sources you seek out or use for evidence.

Expertise/Privilege

Expertise can come in many different forms– authors or creators may have experience through education and practice or through lived experience. Both are valid and your research agenda may dictate what kind of expertise you seek. You may also want to consider whose expertise is published and where. There are systems of oppression and privilege at force within the publishing system that uphold the voices and perspectives of white men and disadvantage the expertise and contributions of BIPOC and women. Being aware of whose voices you privilege in your research and why is an essential aspect of becoming a savvy researcher.

Accuracy

In a time of rising mis- and dis-information on social media and the proliferation of complex algorithms and AI-generated content, accuracy, or the reliability or truthfulness of information, is paramount. Being critical about the source of information, the level of editing or review, and similar coverage are key practices for evaluating information.