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MTH-118

Using SIFT to evaluate information

We are using the SIFT method for evaluating information for this assignment. 

S- Stop
  • Pause before accepting data.
  • Ask: Is this plausible? Does anything seem off?

  • Consider:

    What you already know about the topic. ​

    What you know about the source. Do you know it's reputation?
I- Investigate the Source
  • Who published the dataset?
  • What is the organization’s mission?
  • Is it governmental, academic, nonprofit, or private?

  • What can you find about the author/website creators? ​

  • What is their mission? Do they have vested interests? ​Would their assessment be biased?

  • Do they have authority in the area?​
F- Find Better Coverage
  • Look for the same data from a more reliable source.
  • Compare AI’s (or Google's) suggestions with established authorities (CDC, Census Bureau, HUD, etc.).

  •  Use lateral reading to see if you can find other sources corroborating the same information or disputing it.​

  • What coverage is available on the topic? 
T- Trace Claims Back to the Original
  • Follow AI-provided (or Google-provided) claims to primary sources.
  • Check if the numbers match the original dataset or report.

  • Was the claim, quote, or media fairly represented?

  • Does the extracted information support the original claims in the research? ​

  • Is information being cherry-picked to support an agenda or a bias?​

  • Is information being taken out of context?​

 

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