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Waggoner Library Tutorials

Source Evaluation

Choosing the right source begins with the proper evaluation of that source. One way to evaluate is by asking yourself "Is it CLEAR?"

CLEAR is a tool developed by the SUNY Brockport library as a way of helping students evaluate sources.

Each aspect of the CLEAR process is listed below and is linked to more information on the Is it CLEAR? guide, including evaluative questions.

  • Credibility - reliability and trustworthiness
  • Language - clarity and appropriateness
  • Evidence - supporting data or facts that back up the claims
  • Audience - group of people for whom the information is intended
  • Relevance - how closely the information aligns with your needs or question

Content taken from Is is CLEAR? A Guide to Source Evaluation, created by SUNY Brockport's Drake Memorial Library. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Another approach to evaluating a source is to use the SIFT method, developed by Washington State University digital literacy expert, Mike Caulfield. 

There are four steps to this approach:

  • STOP - Ask yourself what you know about the website, author, or publication.
  • INVESTIGATE - Take a minute to check out the expertise and agenda of the author / source of the information.
  • FIND - Look for other sources on the topic to see if you can verify the claims or find better coverage.
  • TRACE - Trace the claim or quote back to its original source to see the context and verify the accuracy.

For more detailed information about each step, see Mike Caulfield's SIFT (The Four Moves) or Pressbooks' Introduction to College Research.

Content adapted and used with a CC BY 4.0 license.