Look for other sources that either support or challenge the information in the one you're looking at. This is also called lateral reading - a process where you look for the same information across multiple sources to come to a consensus of what is accurate. Finding better coverage might mean looking for another publisher, writer, or media outlet that is also covering the same issue. Look for information in sources you know are trustworthy.
The video below demonstrates how to use lateral reading to evaluate sources.
News and information shared on social media can sometimes lack context. Sometimes this is an unfortunate side effect of the platform - if someone only has 240 characters to get their point across, they aren't able to include the same level of context as they would if they were writing a news article. Sometimes it's intentional - people leave out important details or context to try and influence people to think a certain way.
When you're evaluating a social media post, think about what context you need. If you see a quote, can you find who it is attributed to or where it was taken from? Sometimes posters will manipulate or change quotes because they assume people won't take the extra time to find the original. If you're looking at a video or photo, is there an original version that provides a caption or more information? Look for the original context to assess whether the source you're looking at is showing things out of context to fit a certain narrative.
Disinformation, misinformation, and fake news thrive on manipulating people's emotions. If you are reading or watching something that is making you feel an emotional reaction, pay attention to that. Is the source deliberately trying to get you to feel a certain way to manipulate some sort of reaction out of you? Of course, some things you read or watch will genuinely cause an emotional reaction - you're human! If that emotion is used to manipulate you into believing something untrue, however, that's where things get difficult.
Sometimes misinformation takes the form of an outdated story being shared as if it new and current. Before you share or take something as fact, check the date. Was it posted recently? If it is a few years old, can you find updated information about what it's talking about? Why is someone sharing it now? Is it to push a certain agenda?
Different publications may have certain bias or points of view. If you're reading an article, watching a video, listening to a podcast, or viewing anything that comes from a specific source, think about what you know about that source. Do they typically post information that shares one single point of view, or do they present more rounded perspectives? What can you find out about their editing process and fact checking? Use a tool like the media bias chart to see where your source falls on a scale of political bias and reliability.
Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to seek out information that is consistent with your existing beliefs. This is something that happens subconsciously, where our brains focus on information that confirms what we already believe, and ignore information that challenges our beliefs. When reading news or conducting research, it's important to be aware of your biases and make sure to seek out information that offers a different perspective from your own so you build a well-rounded understanding of a topic. The video below explains more about how confirmation bias functions.
When you're looking at a source and deciding if it's right for your research, ask yourself the six questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.
| WHO |
Who is the author? |
Look for more information about the author. Find out their qualifications and experience to determine if they are a credible expert on the topic. Be cautious of sources where you cannot identify an author or creator. |
|---|---|---|
| WHAT |
What type of source is it? |
Think about what type of source you're looking at - is it a research paper? An entertainment piece? An opinion essay? Consider if it is scholarly or popular and what the format tells you about the source. |
| WHEN |
When was it published? |
Consider how recent and/or timely the information is and how recent you need information to be for your topic. In some subjects, new information develops very quickly and sources that are more than a few years old may already be outdated. In other subjects, information may move more slowly. |
| WHERE |
Where did you find the source? |
Look at where the source was published or shared. See what you can find out about the publisher and their editorial process (Is it peer reviewed? Edited by one general editor? Not edited at all?). Be on the lookout for conflicts of interest and potential bias in publishing. Consider if it is a scholarly publisher, a government source, an educational institution, or an informal source like a blog. |
| WHY |
Why was this written and published? |
Think about the purpose of the source and what it is trying to accomplish. Is the source trying to inform you of new information? Is it trying to persuade you to do something or to have a certain point of view? Is it an ad trying to sell you something? Is it entertainment? |
| HOW |
How did the author/creator find their information? |
If the source is an original research study, look at the methods and conclusions to learn about how the study was conducted and what they learned from it. If the author cites their sources, see if you can find the original source to verify the information. Be cautious using sources that do not contain citations or do not show how they got their information. |