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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.

Web Sources

Web sources can be valuable sources for a research project because they often provide up-to-date information on current events, trends, and social climate, as well as be used to develop a topic or gather background information. Many websites, especially academic or government sites, offer access to credible data and reports that are not always available in traditional print resources. Websites also allow for easy access to a wide range of materials, including multimedia content, that can enrich a research project. However, web sources require careful evaluation of their credibility and accuracy, as they can be less regulated compared to other sources like books or academic journals, which often undergo more rigorous review processes.

Types of web sources: 

  • Websites
  • Blogs
  • Social Media 
  • Forums

Note: Not everything accessed online is a web source. Not sure of a source type? Ask A Librarian.

  • Citation Information 
    • URL 
    • Website Name
    • Page Name 
    • Creator 
    • Last Updated 
    • Access Date
  • Domains suffix 
    • .com = commercial or corporate (Content may be designed by another organization such as an educational institution, but the site itself is run by a commercial company) 
    • .net = network provider (There are many different types of sites that use this suffix as it acts as a catch all.) 
    • .org = organization  (Usually run by non-profit organizations, but anyone can acquire these domain)
    • .edu = education
    • .mil = military
    • .gov = government
  • Contents
    • Header - A section typically at the top of a webpage that includes the website's title, navigation menu, logo, and sometimes search functionality or other quick links.
    • Footer - The section at the bottom of the webpage, which often contains contact information, copyright notices, privacy policies, social media links, and additional navigation links.
    • Navigation bar - A menu or list of links that help users navigate the website, usually found at the top, side, or bottom of a page.
    • Media files - Images, videos, or other multimedia elements embedded in the page content. 
    • Links - Hyperlinks that connect to other web pages, resources, or websites. These could be internal (pointing to pages on the same website) or external (linking to other websites).
    • Text
    • Forms - Elements that allow users to input information, such as contact forms, surveys, search fields, or login forms. 
    • Pages  - There are many different types of pages depending on the web source type, but most web source will contain a page with information about either the site or organization running the site and a contacts page.  

Stop: 

  • Is this information something you were searching for? Be aware of clickbait
  • What is your emotional reaction to the article?   Focus on word choice. 
  • Is the source well designed? Avoid sources with lots of advertisements and pop-ups. 

Investigate: 

  • Who is the author and can you find/prove their credentials?  Be aware of AI generated sites. 
  • What is the website name and who runs it?  Look at the domain suffix and the about page/section. Don't stop there, do a google search to get more information. 
  • Are they known for being credible? Look for motive or agendas. This can also indicate a bias. 
  • Who is funding the information? This could indicate a bias. 
  • Am I comfortable citing and having this source attached to my credibility/reputation?

Read the source: Check out the "Reading Web Sources" tab for more information on this.

Find: 

  • Are there other proven credible sources covering the same or similar topic? If not, it may be AI. 
  • Is there a consensus, disagreement or new viewpoints? 

Trace: 

  • Is there data provided, if so where did it originate? Try to follow the information trail. 
  • Is citation information provided? Can you find the original quotes in full?
  • Does the original information support the conclusion or was anything taken out of context? Look at word choice. 

Most web sources will have a natural flow to them, that assist the reading of them and since there are so many ways to design web sources, you are able to piecemeal like you would a book or article. However, you should read the whole page or post to be able for fully evaluate and use the information. Here are some questions to ask while reading a web source. 

What is your research question? 

When you select a web source to read, focus on your topic. Look for information that is relevant to your research question in topic, level and purpose of the source. Ex. If your are researching social climate or public opinion, then social media post may be good option for you.  

Read the website name and about information.  (Header, Footer and about section) 

Questions to consider: 

  • What information is typically found in this source? 
  • What do we already know about this topic?
  • What have other people said in regards to this topic?
  • Is this related to my question or area of research?

Second: Read the page title or original post.

Questions to consider: 

  • Could it be false, misleading, clickbait, or satirical?
  • What does the title indicate the source is about?   
  • How is this related to my question or area of research?
  • Does this match with what the web source usually contains? 

Finally: Read the contents. If what you've read addresses your research question, this should be your next step. 

Questions to consider:

  • Does the information make sense?
  • How did the author find their information? 
  • What supporting data is provided?
  • Are any quotes and event presented in a factual way? 
  • What conclusions do you formulate from this? 

Review the References (anytime): Web sources do not always provided a formal reference section. 

Questions to ask:

  • What other sources should I read?
  • What other research should I explore?