Diversity in the U.S. Research Guide: Verify & Evaluate All Sources
A guide to resources for Diversity in the U.S. students
Evaluate All Information Sources
Check all sources for:
- Currency
- Relevance
- Authority
- Accuracy
- Purpose
- Evaluating Information Sources (tutorial)From Carroll Community College Library
- The CRAAP TestCCC's general guide on how to evaluate information sources.
- SIFT handout (PDF)Guide to determining whether a source should be used.
Select Information from Published Sources
Use information from reputable, published sources.
- The information provided in library databases and books has been through the publishing process, unlike much of the information on the Internet
- Published information has been verified prior to publication and should be accurate
- However, any information created by human beings could be mistaken, so
- Evaluate all information
Recognize Fake News
Source: IFLA
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users: http://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174
Fact Checking Resources
- EveryCRSReportFrom the Congressional Research service, a division of the Library of Congress, which researches and compiles nonpartisan reports on issues of public debate.
- Fact Checker: The Truth Behind the RhetoricFrom Glenn Kessler at the Washington Post with "an award-winning journalism career spanning more than three decades".
"The purpose of this Web site . . . is to 'truth squad' the statements of political figures regarding issues of great importance . . . We will seek to explain difficult issues, provide missing context and provide analysis and explanation of various “code words” used by politicians, diplomats and others to obscure or shade the truth." - FactCheck.org"We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding."
FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. - FlackCheck"Headquartered at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, FlackCheck.org is the political literacy companion site to the award-winning FactCheck.org. The site provides resources designed to help viewers recognize flaws in arguments in general and political ads in particular. Video resources point out deception and incivility in political rhetoric."
- PolitiFact"PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics. PolitiFact is run by editors and reporters from the Tampa Bay Times, an independent newspaper in Florida."
- OpenSecrets.org"Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Our vision is for Americans, empowered by access to clear and unbiased information about money’s role in politics and policy, to use that knowledge to strengthen our democracy."
- The Sunlight Foundation"The Sunlight Foundation is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses technology, open data, policy analysis and journalism to make our government and politics more accountable and transparent to all."
- Snopes.com: Rumor Has It"The snopes.com website was founded by David Mikkelson, (professional researcher and writer) . . .. What he began in 1995 as an expression of his interest in researching urban legends has since grown into what is widely regarded by folklorists, journalists, and laypersons alike as one of the World Wide Web's essential resources. Snopes.com is routinely included in annual 'Best of the Web' lists and has been the recipient of two Webby awards."
- AllSides (Don't Be Fooled by Bias--Think for Yourself!)"Allsides exposes bias and provides multiple angles on the same story so you can quickly get the full picture, not just one slant."
- HoaxyFrom Indiana U Observatory of Social Media. "Visualizes the spread of claims and related fact checking online . . . (fake news article, hoax, rumor, conspiracy theory, satire, or . . . accurate report) . . . Use Hoaxy to explore how claims spread across social media . . ."
- Pew Research CenterPolls back to 1983
- Duke Reporters' Lab"The Reporters’ Lab is a center for journalism research in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Our core projects focus on fact-checking, but we also do occasional research about trust in the news media and other topics."
- CNN Facts First"CNN holds elected officials and candidates accountable by pointing out what's true and what's not."
Unsure If Information Is Accurate???
Articles
- How to Spot Fake NewsFrom FactCheck
- Six Questions That Will Tell You What Media to TrustFrom The American Press Institute
- Fake News or Real? How to Self-Check the News and Get the FactsFrom National Public Radio (NPR)
- The Fact Checker's Guide for Detecting Fake NewsFrom the Washington Post
- How to Spot Fake News on Your Social NetworksFrom the World Economic Forum
Tips for Identifying Fake News
Source: http://www.wnyc.org/story/breaking-news-consumer-handbook-fake-news-edition/
"Melissa Zimdars, assistant professor of communication and media at Merrimack College, has made a list of more than a hundred problematic news sites, along with tips for sorting the truthful from the troublesome. She talks . . . about how to be a savvy news consumer in a misinformation-filled world."