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Fact-Checking and Misinformation

Vet websites using fact checkers’ strategies (such as the SIFT method), and why you should do it.

Fact-Checking & the SIFT Method

When you find a source of information, how do you know if it’s true? How can you be sure that it is a reliable, trustworthy, and effective piece of evidence for your research? This guide will introduce you to a set of strategies to quickly and effectively verify your sources, based on the approach taken by professional fact-checkers. Fact-checking is a form of information hygiene (see box below)—it can minimize your own susceptibility to misinformation and disinformation, and help you to avoid spreading it to others.

Mike Caulfield, Washington State University digital literacy expert, has helpfully condensed key fact-checking strategies into a short list of four moves, or things to do to quickly make a decision about whether or not a source is worthy of your attention. It is referred to as the “SIFT” method:

S - Stop

I - Investigate the source.

F - Find better coverage.

T - Trace claims, quotes, and media to the original context. 

Adapted from "Introduction to College Research" by Walter D. Butler, Aloha Sargent, and Kelsey Smith is licensed under CC BY 4.0​

Information Hygiene

The term information hygiene refers to the “metaphorical handwashing you engage in to prevent the spread of misinformation” (Caulfield, “It Can Take”).

In addition to actual hygiene, we also need to focus on information hygiene and "flattening the curve" of dangerous falsehoods online by taking proactive steps to reduce their spread. Fact-checking is an example of good information hygiene. Much like hand sanitizer or hand washing, it isn’t a cure, but rather a prevention for the spread of misinformation (Caulfield, “Misinformation”).

If our information environment is polluted, we shouldn’t abandon it—instead, we should help to clean it up. That is, if we are frustrated with the content posted on platforms like Facebook or YouTube or with low-quality Google search results, why not clean it up by posting as much reliable information as we can?

Of course, a big part of this movement will involve putting pressure on the platforms themselves to act responsibly. But because the Web is a collectively-maintained and produced environment, we, as consumers and creators, can also participate in the process through direct action. Here are some examples of actions you might take to improve the information environment (Caulfield, “Info-Environmentalism”):

  • Minimize your own “misinformation footprint” by being more thoughtful about what you post and share on social media. Do a quick fact-check first.
  • Shift your focus from arguing points to explaining things to others.
  • Edit and improve Wikipedia articles.
  • Create explanatory YouTube videos.
  • Post pages on blogs or wikis that provide helpful guidance on important issues.
  • Post better answers on question-and-answer websites like Quora or StackExchange.
  • When you do share information, use evidence and cite your sources.

Adaptation of "Introduction to College Research" by Walter D. Butler, Aloha Sargent, and Kelsey Smith is licensed under CC BY 4.0​