PERS 2002: Science Perspectives on Global Problems (Heather Martin Fall 2024)

Evaluating the credibility and accuracy of information is an important part of the academic research process. If you found it in a book, on a website or in a library database, you should still be checking to see if the information is credible and accurate. One popular method for evaluating information is the "SIFT" method. The SIFT method breaks the evaluation process into four simple steps: 

Image Source:

SIFT (The Four Moves) – Hapgood. (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2024, from https://hapgood.us/2019/06/19/sift-the-four-moves/

If you are using a newspaper source, you will also want to be mindful that there is a lot of disinformation and misinformation in the media these days. Merriam-Webster defines Misinformation and disinformation as:

Misinformation: is incorrect or misleading information

Disinformation: is false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth

Here is an infographic from the International Federation for Library Associations and Institutions on how to spot fake news.

Image Source: 

IFLA Repository: How To Spot Fake News. (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2024, from https://repository.ifla.org/handle/123456789/167

Sources:

Misinformation Definition & Meaning—Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misinformation 

Definition of DISINFORMATION. (2024, August 6). https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disinformation

You should always verify the output from AI Tools like ChatGPT, CoPilot, and others as they are known to "hallucinate" or make up information. If you are using AI Tools for research, make sure that you evaluate them just like you would any other source. 

As you review output from AI Tools, evaluate the information with the SIFT Process and consider:

1. STOP - how and why are you using the tool? Is using the AI Tool the right approach? Is your prompt unbiased?
2. INVESTIGATE - Does your AI Tool have any known biases due to the data sampled, algorithms used, etc? 
3. FIND BETTER COVERAGE - Can you find this information in other, credible sources?
4. TRACE - Can you trace the information back to its source? Can you verify the citations included to make sure that they exist and aren't hallucinated? 

Sources: 

September 11, 2024, from https://guides.umd.umich.edu/c.php?g=1399575&p=10353762
AI Bias Examples | IBM. (2024, August 21). https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/shedding-light-on-ai-bias-with-real-world-examples

SIFT and Generative AI Content—SIFT: Evaluating Web Content—Subject Guides at University of Michigan-Dearborn. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2024, from https://guides.umd.umich.edu/c.php?g=1399575&p=10353762

If you are still having trouble determining the accuracy or credibility of a source or it's information after using the SIFT evaluation method,  please reach out to a librarian for more help or talk to your professor.