Introduction
There is no one right way to evaluate information to determine whether or not it is credible for use in your academic research projects.
First off, Context is key. In some cases, it might make sense to use popular sources to support your work. In other cases, your topic or question might require scholarly articles. Always default to your assignment requirements -- if the assignment sheet says you need scholarly articles, you should probably get those scholarly articles.
Information is everywhere and misinformation is prevalent. As librarians who are trained and educated to handle information, we're here to help. This guide is especially designed for new college students like you, to help you understand how misrepresentation of information or "Fake News" as many call it, can impact your lives and others. In this guide you will learn simple strategies to help you spot "Fake" or falsified information.
Fake news has been around for a very long time even before the internet. When you think about "Fake News" in today's world, what comes to mind? Did you know that propaganda is also fake news made to sway the public about a particular person or group of people? Can you spot the difference between satire and actual "fake news"? The drop down tab "Types of Fake News" will help you identify several instances of misinformation or "fake news" including satire, manipulation, fabrication, and misleading information.
If you have trouble deciding whether or not an article or information is trustworthy, ask your librarian!
How to Spot Fake News
Fact-Check with ABCD
Evaluating a website or news article for credibility can be tricky, even for experts. By using the "ABCD" framework (adapted from UNC Greensboro Libraries) as a guide, you can tease apart the information source to determine if it's credible by asking a few simple questions.
1: Authority: What is the author’s credentials or expertise? What is the author's relationship to the topic?
2. Bias: Is the article one-sided or taking into account multiple sides? Is this source reporting on the facts or based on opinion? Is the purpose of the article to inform or persuade?
3. Currency: When was this article written? Are the author's references close to the article’s publication date? When was the website last updated?
4. Documentation: Does the author “back up” their argument or claim with links or references? Does the author provide evidence for their opinion or claim?
Video: Evaluating Sources for Credibility
This short video from NCSU Libraries sums up the main concepts and ways to identify credible sources.
Fact-checking Resources
- SnopesOne of the first online fact-checking websites. Snopes is well know for debunking myths, but has now became a primary tool for dispelling rumors, report misleading information, and validate claims.
- Media Bias/Fact CheckA comprehensive web resource reviewing and rating over 2,500 media sources based on a 0-1 scale ranking bias from least biased to extreme bias.
- PolitifactPolitifact is a well-known fact-checker that specializes in determining the accuracy of politicians' statements and arguments.
- Factcheck.orgFactcheck.org is another trusted non-profit, non-partisan fact-checking organization.
Test your knowledge!
Fact-check the meme!
1. Check for any names or websites associated with the meme. This comes from Occupy Democrats, which has been know to show misleading, fake, or exaggerated partisan content favoring Democrats.
2. Identify words, pictures, text placement, and main parts of the meme. There are images of Mitch McConnell, a US Senator and Paul Ryan, House of Representatives Speaker, both whom are Republicans, and a picture of crying baby accompanied with a mosquito.
3. Look for emotion or strong wording to evoke a specific emotion. The words "Share If You're Outraged" are designed to evoke a specific response from the reader and turn your anger to a specific group; in this case, Republicans.
4. Do some research. You may have to research what the Zika virus is and confirm that there were four Floridians who were infected with Zika. According to the Center for Disease Control, Zika virus is contracted by a species of infected mosquito that can cause birth defects passed from a pregnant mother to her baby. One of the most common resulting birth defect is a condition called Microcephaly.
5. Determine context. According to this meme, four Floridians became infected with the virus. Zika was declared an international health emergency by the World Health Organization in early 2016, when Florida officials reported the first outbreak in the US. An August 2016 article in the British Medial Journal (BMJ) confirmed four people in Florida were infected with the virus. Around the same time in 2016, Congress was jointly working on a plan to provide emergency funding for the Zika virus. The funding was delayed due to a disagreement between Democrats and Republicans in Congress on language supported by Republicans that would bar funding for Planned Parenthood. The final decision to pass the measure for funding came in September 2016.
In conclusion, this meme is misleading. Republicans didn't exactly vote down the bill, but was delayed by Congress, including Democrats due to disagreement over funding. The meme is also designed to get Democratic supporters upset and riled up. The connection between the two parts of the meme; infected Floridians and Republicans, namely McConnell and Ryan, denying funding is misrepresentative showing that one happened due to the other. People would have been infected regardless of funding and were still in fact, cared for, despite Congress' decision.