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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.

Scholarly Articles 

Scholarly articles are written by experts in a particular field and published in academic journals, research papers, or other formal publications. These articles contribute to the body of knowledge within a specific discipline and are typically based on original research, theories, or critical reviews of existing work. Often times they undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure accuracy, credibility, and scholarly quality. Using scholarly articles strengthens arguments, supports claims with reliable data, and helps keep research grounded in the most current knowledge available in a given field. Even though scholarly articles are held to a higher standard then many other sources, you still need to evaluate them.

  • Citation Information 
    • Publisher & Journal Name
    • Volume, Issue, Date
    • Title & Author 
    • Source or Access Point 
  • Keywords or Subjects Terms - Some articles will list the subject terms, which can be used to find similar articles. 
  • Sections
    • Abstract / Description - Brief summary of the article, including main points and findings. Typically provided by the author(s).  
    • Introduction - Purpose of the study
      • Background - Historical information that helps give context to the research topic. This may be a part of the introduction or its own subheading.   
      • Literature review of a review of current research publishing about the topic that helps frame how the author arrived at the question/topic
    • Body - The details about the study. This section may contain multiple subheadings helping to organize the research into digestible pieces. (This is where most readers may get lost -- read the other sections first then this section for more detail. You may need to read it more than once.)  
      • Research Methodology - how the study was done, including subjects, testing conditions and so on. This ensures the study can be replicated by others. 
      • Results / Data - The numbers and/or outcomes of the study. Oftentimes includes charts, graphs and formulas 
    • Discussion: Extended summary of the findings; may include questions/answer that arose from the study or the author's further actions with the research topic. 
      • Conclusion: restates the findings and suggest further research that needs to be done. 
    • Reference / Bibliography - previous research the author used to formulate their own study design and question. May include more resources available on the topic. 

Stop: 

  • Is this article something you were searching for? Read the abstract 
  • What is your emotional reaction to the article?  Read the title and abstract. Do either provoke an emotion? 

Investigate: 

  • Who is the author(s) and can you find/prove their credentials? Some databases have author profiles you can review. 
  • What the is the journal title?  Are they know for being credible? Research the journal title through Think. Check. Submit. or review our Predatory Journals Guide for more resources.
  • Who funds the journals? This could indicate a bias. 
  • Am I comfortable citing and having this source attached to my credibility/reputation?

Skim/read the source: Check out the "Reading Scholarly Articles" tab for more information on this.

Find: 

  • Does the original article contain a literature review? This will help answer many of the following questions.
  • Has any one cited this article? Many databases have Citation References which can answer this. Google Scholar is also a good place to find this information. 
  • Are there other proven credible sources covering the same or similar topic? Check Subject terms and skim abstracts. 
  • Is there a consensus, disagreement or new view points? Abstract and Discussion/Conclusion can help with this. 

Trace: 

  • Is there data provided, if so where did it originate? Read the results / data and the reference sections . 
  • Can you duplicate the study, with the information provided? Read the methodology section.
  • Does the data support the conclusion? Read the discussion / conclusion.  

It can be confusing to read a scholarly article straight through. Instead focus on different sections and try skimming first to evaluate if the article is worth your time. Look for keywords that match your research topic. The reading order below is a good place to start. For a more in depth tutorial for reading and understanding scholarly articles please check out "The CREATE Process" workshop video on the library's YouTube page. 

What is your research question? 

When you select an article to read, focus on your topic. Look for information in the article that is relevant to your research question. 

Read the abstract first 

Questions to consider: 

  • What is this article about?
  • Is this related to my question or area of research?

Second: Read the introduction and discussion/conclusion.  

Questions to consider for the introduction: 

  • What do we already know about this topic?
  • What have other people done in regards to this topic?

Questions for the discussion and conclusion: 

  • What does the study mean and why is it important?
  • What are the weaknesses in their argument?

Next: Read about the Methods/Methodology. If what you've read addresses your research question, this should be your next section. 

Questions to consider:

  • How did the author do the research? 
  • What data are the study based on?

Finally: Read the Results and Analysis. 

 Questions to consider: 

  • Are the results presented in a factual way? 
  • What conclusions do you formulate from this data? (And does it match with the Author's conclusions?)

Review the References (anytime): 

Questions to ask:

  • Am I comfortable citing and having this source attached to my credibility/reputation?
  • What other sources should I read?
  • What other research should I explore?

Acknowledgements and resources for more information: