When you come across information online, you must evaluate the information for accuracy because it is very easy to fabricate information and post it online. It's also very easy to make this fake information look professional and credible. You may have been introduced to the CRAAP test:
Currency
Relevance
Accuracy
Authority
Purpose
This is a good place to start because it provides you with some clues to look for; however, you must go beyond CRAAP. When you find a clue such as "authority," engage in lateral reading and learn more about this author to see if the author really does have the credentials to write on this topic. Even if you determine the source is credible, you also need to evaluate the logic of the claims to be sure the evidence presented is free from logical fallacies (incorrect conclusions based on presentation of the evidence).
The information below will help you go beyond CRAAP to determine whether something is fake or factual and free of logical fallacies. Even when you come across legitimate, factual news, it may be flawed because it comes from a biased source. Checking bias is also covered in this guide.
When you come across a news article that describes a report, the news article is a secondary source because it is not reporting original data or source. Instead, it interprets an original (primary) data or source. You should to go back to the original source of information to determine if the secondary source is truthfully summarizing the article, or if the news is using language that intentionally clouds the original report's findings.
If you're reading news online, look for hyperlinks or citations to the primary source. If the online source doesn't provide hyperlinks or if you're reading the news in print, there should be at least partial citation information; credible news outlets will provide you with one or both of these methods to at least get to the abstract of the primary source. If these elements are missing, that could be a sign that this information is fake. You should search for any clues to help you get to the original, primary source.
Many fact checkers and scholars recommend the tactic of reading laterally when coming across a new stream of information. This practice encourages that, when encountering an unfamiliar webpage or source, readers open new tabs to first investigate the credibility of that source. By learning more about the source's history and background, we can obtain more context and determine whether the information provided by a source is reliable.
To learn more about lateral reading and see it in action, review the videos below from the University of Louisville and Crash Course.
Developed by Kat Phillips at Penn State University, the IF I APPLY framework takes evaluating the surface level information within a source to the next level by also addressing your own personal biases. Searching for and only finding sources that confirm our preexisting thoughts or experiences is not an effective way to research - we have to get the whole picture.
This framework includes two steps - personal accountability/bias checking AND source evaluation.
Personal Accountability & Bias Checking Step - IF I
I |
Identify emotions attached to the topic. |
F |
Find unbiased reference sources that will provide a proper and informative overview of the topic. |
I |
Intellectual courage is needed to seek authoritative voices on the topic that may fall outside your comfort zone or thesis. |
Source Evaluation Step - APPLY
A |
Authority:
|
P |
Purpose/Point of View:
|
P |
Publisher:
|
L |
List of Sources/Bibliography:
|
Y |
Year of Publication:
|
It is important to develop your own fact checking skills, however there are also websites where people fact check claims. There are more claims than fact checkers, so you may come across a claim before it has been fact checked on these sites.
The image below (also attached below for those with screen readers) outlines tips on how to recognize Fake News. Developed by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.