Every day, it seems more and more challenging to determine the reliability of the information we encounter. Information experts such as librarians, journalists, and researchers have developed sets of criteria with easy-to-remember acronyms to help us evaluate sources and avoid misinformation and disinformation. None are perfect, but the descriptions below can help you decide which set of criteria is best suited to your needs.
For more tools and advice, visit Fake News: Glossary & Resources and Purdue University's Evaluating Sources of Information.
Want more acronyms? Visit Acronyms for Using A.I. Tools.
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CRAAP
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RADAR
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| CRAAP and RADAR are best applied to a vetted source, like an article found in a library database. You already know the source is legit, but is it really the best choice for your research assignment? | |
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SIFT
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Research scientist Mike Caulfield is critical of checklists like CRAAP and RADAR and advises us to take a more active approach to evaluating information. SIFT combines a streamlined list of things to look for with a practical list of things to do. |
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SHEEP
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| The news verification experts at FirstDraft.org advise us to “Think SHEEP” to avoid misinformation and disinformation when browsing social media. |
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ACT UP
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| Librarian Dawn Stahura urges us to consider social justice when evaluating sources. Her ACT UP checklist addresses issues such as privilege in academic publishing and the consequences of sharing unverified information. |
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ESCAPE
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| ESCAPE junk news with this acronym developed by NewseumED.org. Educators can sign up for a free account to download a complete lesson plan on using ESCAPE in the classroom. |
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