Skip to Main Content
The State University of New York at Fredonia Reed Library

Diversity & Social Justice: Evaluating Sources

Getting started banner

When researching, you'll find a ton of information from different sources. In college and in your future career, you'll need to use only reliable sources. You'll find many sources as you gather information, including books, articles, ebooks, interviews, videos, and more. You'll need to use evaluation techniques to determine which of these are trustworthy.

Evaluation Techniques

 

  • Consider the Source: Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission and its contact info.
  • Read Beyond: Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story?
  • Check the Author: Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real?
  • Supporting Sources?: Click on those links. Determine if the info given actually supports the story.
  • Check the Date: Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they're relevant to current events.
  • Is it a Joke?: If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.
  • Check your Biases: Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgement.
  • Ask the Experts: Ask a librarian, or consult a fact-checking site.

 

A domain suffix is the last part of a website's URL, also known as a "top-level domain" (TLD). It indicates the type of website, and it’s one of the first things to check when evaluating a site.

Some common domain suffixes are explained below, though many others exist. For a complete list of domain suffixes, visit Worldstandard. 
The organization ICANN manages the Internet's naming system, including these suffixes.

Domain Suffixes: What They Mean

A domain suffix is the end of a website’s URL (like ".com" or ".edu"). It’s a quick clue about what kind of site you’re looking at. Here's a breakdown of common domain suffixes:

  • .com (Commercial): These are company-owned sites. While they may have useful info, keep in mind that they might also be promoting their products or services. Make sure the information is unbiased.
  • .gov (U.S. Government): Sites ending in .gov belong to the U.S. federal government. These are great for trustworthy data like census reports, congressional hearings, or legal documents.
  • .edu (Educational): Schools and universities use this domain. Most content from educational institutions is reliable, but watch out for personal pages hosted on these sites. They may not be monitored closely.
  • .org (Organization): Many nonprofits, like the American Red Cross, use .org. These sites are usually credible, but some may promote specific agendas. Always double-check the bias.
  • .net (Network): This domain is a bit of a wildcard. It can be used by many different types of sites, so you’ll want to examine these closely.

Remember, evaluating the site’s domain is just one step—always think critically about what you’re reading!

The SIFT method is a simple strategy to help you evaluate the reliability of online information. It stands for:

  • Stop: Before accepting or sharing information, take a moment to consider whether the source is trustworthy.
  • Investigate the source: Look into who’s providing the information. Are they an expert or credible organization? What’s their agenda?
  • Find better coverage: Check if other reliable sources report the same information. This helps confirm its accuracy.
  • Trace claims, quotes, and media: Refer to the original source to determine whether the information has been reported accurately or taken out of context.

We use the SIFT method because it helps you quickly assess whether the information you see online is trustworthy or misleading. It’s a helpful way to avoid falling for misinformation, especially in today’s fast-paced digital world.

Evaluation Tools & Resources

Check out the links below for websites and tools to help you evaluate and fact-check information. You'll find resources for political fact-checking, talk shows and media analysis, and tutorials and books on assessing information effectively.

Evaluation Tools

 

Fact Checking Sites

 

Daniel A. Reed Library • The State University of New York at Fredonia • 280 Central Ave., Fredonia, NY 14063 • 716-673-3184 • Fax: 716-673-3185 • reedref@fredonia.edu
FB: @ReedLibraryInsta: @SUNYFredLibrary X: @SUNYFredLibrary

Accessibility Statement: Reed Library is dedicated to making information accessible for everyone. If you notice an accessibility issue within this guide, please contact Katelynn Telford

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike logo Except where otherwise noted, this guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.