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How to do Research - Indianapolis

Types of Misinformation

Claire Wardle (2019), a leading researcher in the field of misinformation, identified 3 types of "information disorder":

  1. Misinformation - untrue, false information
  2. Malinformation - true information shared with harmful intent
  3. Disinformation - untrue, false information shared with harmful intent

According to Wardle (2019), there are 7 types of mis- / dis- information and fake content:

Potential Level of Harm Type of Mis-/Dis- information Description

High


Low

 Fabricated Content "New content that is 100% false, designed to deceive and do harm"
Manipulated Content "When genuine information or imagery is manipulated to deceive"
Imposter Content "When genuine sources are impersonated"
False Context "When genuine content is shared with false contextual information"
Misleading Content "Misleading use of information to frame an issue or individual"
False Connection "When headlines, visuals or captions don't support the content"
Satire or Parody "No intention to cause harm but has potential to fool"

Avoiding Misinformation: The SIFT Method

The four-step SIFT method, which was originally developed by Mike Caulfield, can help you maneuver through false and distorted information:

Stop before you read.

Image: stop sign

 Pause to give yourself time to think about the source's credibility and reliability.

  • Are you having an emotional reaction to the headline or article?
  • Does the information seem illogical or unrealistic?
  • What do you know about the source or topic?

 

Investigate the source.

Image: person holding magnifying glass

Critically examine the credibility of the source. (See the ASSESS tab on the left for additional information).

  • Where was this source published? Does the source have any biases?
  • Is an author (person or organization) listed?  What credentials or expertise do they have on the topic?
  • Who is the intended audience for the article? What purpose is the author trying to achieve with the audience?
  • Is the information written in objective or subjective language?

 

Find better coverage.

Image: hand icon hold a badge that has a checkmark

Look for a more credible source that can be used instead. 

  • Are other sites or publications covering the same topic?  
  • Can you verify the information with a fact-checking tool?
  • Can you find less-biased coverage of the topic?
  • Do other authors writing about the topic have more qualified or credible credentials?

 

Trace information back to the original source.

Image: person icon with a connecting line to other person icons

Try to follow the breadcrumbs of information back to the original quotation or claim.

  • What sources does the article cite as evidence to support its ideas?
  • Can you access the cited materials? Is it another re-reporting of content or the original article?
  • How might the information represented have changed since the original article?

Tools for Checking Bias

Biases--in the media, and our own--can interfere with analyzing information. It's important to be aware of potential biases that can shape the messages you read so that you can think more critically about them.

A few bias identification tools to consider:

Tools for Fact Checking

Sometimes it can be hard to determine the reliability of information found online just by reviewing the website itself. Journalists, and others interested in assessing information online, make use of organizations and agencies that specialize in fact checking. 

A few fact checking sites to consider:

  • AP Fact Check "combat[s] misinformation by debunking false and misleading claims."
  • FactCheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The site can be searched by Issue, Location, People, and Date.
  • Politifact is a project of the Tampa Bay Times begun in 2007. It evaluates claims made by news sources, politicians, and others and rates the statements on its "Truth-O-Meter" with the most egregious falsehoods getting a "Pants on Fire" status.
  • Reuters Fact Check is a dedicated fact-checking unit within the Reuters News editorial department. "The principal aim of this unit is to fact-check visual material and claims posted on social media."
  • Snopes has been investigating urban legends and uncovering hoaxes for over two decades. When you encounter a story in the news that seems outlandish or too strange to be true, check whether Snopes has information about it.    

Tools for Identifying Fake Images and Videos

Like fake news, fake images and videos help promote misinformation, and have become common in social media platforms.

A few tools to consider using when determining if a photo or video is real or not:

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