LibGuides: Detecting Misinformation: Evaluating &amp; Fact Checking

Questions to Ask About Information

These questions will help you as you evaluate information.

Who created this content? Often it's easy to find out who created an article, podcast, etc., but people and organizations who spread disinformation aren't always straightforward about who created the content. If you need to make a medical or financial decision, look for information that was created or at least reviewed by an expert in the field.
Why was this content created? Is the content supposed to inform (news), persuade (opinion), or entertain you? Satirical news sites, like The Onion and Reductress, are created for entertainment.
What kind of language does the content creator use? Journalists typically strive to use neutral language in their reporting, while opinion writers use persuasive language. Watch out for opinion and misinformation masquerading as news; politically slanted media organizations frequently put out "news" content that paints an inaccurate picture of events.
Does this content confirm or contradict my beliefs? If we have strong beliefs about an issue or person (for example, a politician), it might be difficult to believe information that goes against our opinions. Likewise, we're more likely to believe information that supports our opinions. Awareness of our own opinions and biases can help us evaluate information critically.
Does this content make extraordinary claims? Be wary of sources that claim a medical product or supplement is a "miracle" cure, or that seem invested in selling a specific brand of product. Be wary of online content with click-bait headlines that include words like "shocking," "explosive," "outrageous," or "bizarre." Be wary of news stories that don't name any of their sources.
Are other sources reporting the same information? National events will typically be reported by more than one news organization. This question won't always be helpful for local events, though, especially in towns that don't have a newspaper or news station.
How long ago was this content created? As events develop, the news changes. Likewise, as scientists gather more data, they revise their findings. Make sure you're not relying on outdated content.

The following websites have more tools and questions to jump-start your information evaluation:

Let's flatten the infodemic curve
Strategies for checking information before you pass it on to others. Created by the World Health Organization to combat misinformation about COVID-19, but you can use these questions to evaluate any source.
National Institutes of Health: Finding and evaluating online resources
This resource has questions to ask when evaluating health information.

Defining Our Own Biases

As we evaluate information, it's important to know our own biases. Otherwise, we might be tempted to throw out valid information because it goes against our beliefs, or to believe misinformation because it validates our beliefs.

If you're not sure what your political biases are, try one of the quizzes below.

Rate Your Bias - AllSides
Evaluate your political perspective on a spectrum from Left to Right.
Political Typology Quiz - Pew Research Center
A more complex evaluation of where you fall on the American political spectrum. Based on Pew's 2017 survey of Americans' political beliefs.
8values - GitHub
Complex political evaluation. Results show where your values fall on economic, diplomatic, civil, and societal scales.

Information Evaluation Models

The CRAAP Test and Lateral Reading
How to use the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose) and lateral reading (fact-checking as you read) to evaluate information.
SIFT
"SIFT" is an acronym for Stop, Investigate the source, Find trusted coverage, and Trace claims, quotes, and media back to the original context. This model will help you evaluate and put the news into context.
IMVAIN
IMVAIN is an acronym used to evaluate the quality of sources (people) interviewed in news stories. It stands for: Independent sources are better than self-interested sources; Multiple sources are better than single sources; sources who Verify are better than sources who assert; Authoritative/Informed sources are better than uninformed sources; and Named sources are better than unnamed sources.

Fact Checking Tools

News/Information

Snopes.com
Snopes got its start debunking urban legends and email chain letters, but it has expanded to cover just about everything that can be fact-checked on the Internet. Snopes is "the oldest and largest fact-checking site online, widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and readers as an invaluable research companion." About Snopes
FactCheck.org
FactCheck is "a nonpartisan, nonprofit 'consumer advocate' for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics." About FactCheck
PolitiFact.com
PolitiFact is nonpartisan website dedicated to truth in American politics. Their "core principles are independence, transparency, fairness, thorough reporting and clear writing." About PolitiFact
Quote Investigator
Did Mark Twain (or Lao Tzu, or Margaret Thatcher, or...you get the picture) REALLY say that? Garson O’Toole of Quote Investigator finds out. About Quote Investigator

Photos/Images

TinEye Reverse Image Search
TinEye is a reverse image search engine. You can use it to find out when and where an image first appeared on the Internet.
How to Tell If an Image Has Been Manipulated or Photoshopped (How To Geek)
A list of things to look for and tools to use to see if a photo has been manipulated.
How to use your phone to spot fake images
From Poynter. Specifically discusses the U.S.-Iran conflict in 2020, but the tools apply to fact-checking any news photo. Contains questions to ask about images as well as information on using Google's reverse image search, TinEye, and Yandex Images.