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Source Evaluation: SIFT

Learn about the evaluation tool SIFT (Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace) and how to apply it to various forms of information.

SIFT (The Four Moves)

It is extremely important to evaluate information found on the internet for reliability and validity.  SIFT (The Four Moves), developed by Mike Caulfield, is an evaluation method aimed primarily at news websites and social media, but can be used when looking at any source type. 

Decorative

 

When using The SIFT Method: 

  1. STOP! Pause and ask yourself if you recognize the information and if you know anything about the website or source's reputation.
  2. Investigate the source: Take a minute to identify where this information comes from and to consider the creator’s expertise and agenda. Is the source worth your time? Look at what others have said about the source, what kind of reputation does it have?
  3. Find better coverage: AKA - Find trusted coverage. Look for credible sources; compare information across sources and determine whether there is a consensus. In another words look at more than 1 source. 
  4. Trace claims, quotes, and media back to the original context. Online information is sometimes removed from its original context. Trace the information back to the original sources to evaluates its relevancy. 

"The Sift Method" by Mike Caulfield is licensed under CC BY 4.0. 

Enhance Your Online Verification Skills

Let SIFT creator, Mike Caulfield, walk you through applying the Four Moves. Then checkout the other pages within this guide to see how to apply SIFT to specific sources types. 

STOP reminds you to:

  1. Check the information source and ask yourself what you know about it?
  2. Does the source of information have a reputation, does the information presented have a reputation?
  3. Did the information give you an emotional response? 

 

When investigating the sources, try HOVERING the information. (link opens in a new window)

  • To find out more about a source, hover over the link to the user profile (desktop browser) or click it (mobile).
  • When you hover, ask yourself
    • Is this source what I thought it was?
    • Is this source credible enough to share without any further checking?
  • Hover every time, not just when it looks suspicious. 

When Finding Better Coverage:

  1. Scan multiple sources and see what the consensus is.
  2. Do a reverse image search to find out more about the image attached to the information.
  3. Check coverage on fact-checking websites.

 

  1. Click through to follow links to claims.
  2.  Open the original reporting sources listed in a bibliography, if present.
  3. Look at the original context. Was the claim, quote, or media fairly represented?