BIOT 260: Biotechnology Seminar: Evaluating Sources

Online sources can be inaccurate or even dishonest. Here are "Four Moves" that students can use to fact-check online information, adapted from the book Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers (2017) by Mike Caulfield.

• Check for previous work: A trustworthy source may have already doing the fact-checking to determine whether the information is accurate.
• Go upstream to the source: Much of the information on the web is repeated from someplace else. What is the original source of the information, and can you find it yourself? Watch out for claims based on "a recent study" if no author, journal, or title are provided.
• Read laterally: Try to find out about the reputation of the original source and its claims. A dishonest source probably won't tell you that they're dishonest! Open a new browser tab and search on the name of the publication or company to see what others are saying about them.
• Circle back: Sometimes it can be hard to figure out the truth. If you've completed the first three moves but are still confused, you may need to start over. The information you have already found should help you think of different search terms and other places to look.

A source can have true information but still not be appropriate for your project. The C.R.A.A.P. Test is a framework to help you evaluate sources by thinking about their Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. Refer to the table below for a quick guide. The original handout, developed by librarians at California State University, Chico, is available here.