How reliable is that information source?

Summary

In this session, Jess Davis, a Teaching Liaison Librarian at the University of Newcastle, explains how to evaluate the reliability of information sources using the SIFT method. This method involves stopping to assess a source, investigating its credibility and expertise, finding other coverage on the topic, and tracing the claims made. Jess emphasizes the importance of evaluating sources critically, even those found through Google Scholar. The session includes an example of assessing a source from Cold Case Inc., demonstrating how to apply the SIFT method to ensure the source is reliable and relevant for academic work.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jess Davis, Teaching Liaison Librarian at the University of Newcastle, introduces the session on evaluating the reliability of information sources using the SIFT method.
• 😀 The SIFT method stands for Stop, Investigate the source, Find other coverage, and Trace the claims, and is designed to help evaluate the quality of information sources.
• 😀 The first step in the SIFT method is to Stop and assess if you recognize the website or source, and whether it's from an academic source or not.
• 😀 Investigating the source involves checking the author's credentials and expertise to understand their background and any potential biases in the content.
• 😀 Finding other coverage means searching for other articles on the same topic to compare claims and see if they align or differ from the original source.
• 😀 Tracing the claims involves checking the sources linked within the article, ensuring they lead to reputable sources, and verifying the references for credibility.
• 😀 Jess demonstrates the SIFT method using a search for 'social media AND true crime', evaluating a website (Cold Case Inc.) by stopping to assess its reliability.
• 😀 The website Cold Case Inc. was found to lack a clear author and the agenda appeared to be entertainment rather than academic, highlighting the importance of evaluating agendas.
• 😀 Jess emphasizes that even when using academic databases like Google Scholar, the SIFT method should still be applied to ensure the reliability of the sources found.
• 😀 The session encourages students to always evaluate sources before using them in academic work, reinforcing the importance of thorough research practices.
• 😀 The session concludes with Jess reminding students that the recording of the session will be available soon and thanking everyone for joining.

Q & A

What is the main focus of today's session led by Jess Davis?

The session focuses on evaluating the reliability of information sources, particularly how to determine whether a source is trustworthy using the SIFT method.

What does the SIFT acronym stand for?

SIFT stands for Stop, Investigate the source, Find other coverage, and Trace the claims.

Why is it important to evaluate the sources of information you find online?

Evaluating sources helps ensure that the information you use for academic assignments is reliable, credible, and appropriate, avoiding the use of inaccurate or biased sources.

What is the first step in the SIFT method?

The first step is 'Stop', which involves pausing to assess the resource and asking questions like 'Do I know this website?' and 'Is this from an academic or non-academic source?'

How can you investigate the source of information?

You can investigate the source by checking the author's credentials, looking for signs of bias or a particular agenda, and verifying the expertise of the author or organization behind the content.

What should you do if the source of an article does not list an author?

If an author is not listed, you can try to find other information about the source by checking its 'About Us' section or doing a quick search to verify the organization's credibility.

What does 'Find other coverage' involve?

'Find other coverage' involves searching for additional articles or sources on the same topic to see if they confirm or contradict the claims made by the original article.

How does the 'Trace the claims' step help evaluate a source?

Tracing the claims involves checking any links or references within the article to verify their validity and whether they lead to reputable sources.

What is an example of a source Jess uses during the demonstration?

Jess uses 'Cold Case Inc.' as an example to demonstrate how to evaluate a source using the SIFT method.

Does finding a source through Google Scholar automatically mean it is reliable?

No, while Google Scholar includes academic articles, it is still important to evaluate the source using the SIFT method, as not all content in Google Scholar is automatically authoritative or free of bias.