Common Acronyms used to remember checklists of what to check when evaluating information include: Evaluation Mnemonics SIFT RADAR RAVEN CCRRAAPP, among others. Current studies point out that sometimes these "check lists" don't flag hoax and scam sites that carefully follow evaluation criteria.
These days, if it "quacks like a duck" you still don't know what it is. Now that so much science "fiction" has becme fact, and artificial Intelligence is learning human logical weaknesses, it is harder to catch the hoaxes, scams and subtle propaganda.
That is why "Lateral Reading" has become more imortant.
Don't take a website publisher's word for how great they are, check outside their website for reviews.
Red flags:
If the only reviews or commentary about a website, product, organization, business, etc. is on their website, be wary.
websites that don't pass recommendations I have made on Evaluating Sources (especially poorly designed websites that look like covers for ad quilts.)
content bait that is hosted on a website selling essays, unethical homework aid, legal advice, rehab options (patient brokering issue), or non-topic-related services.
websites hosted on domains that have a bad reputation or odd info on Domaintools.
websites with low rating; website to for-profit colleges or links that are a conflict of interest, or don't have FVTC as a client or in their search results list.
websites that are similar but less attractive or less easy to use than what I already have.
R is for RATIONALE: the reason it exists. This will also let you know what the content BIAS is.
A is for AUTHORITY: is the author an EXPERT? Who says?
D is for DATE: is it CURRENT information? Some theories change within days.
A is for ACCURACY of information: is the information you are receiving COMPLETE and IN CONTEXT, or cherry-picked and deceiving?
R is for RELEVANT: if it isn't useful for your goal, don't waste your time by reading.
If information doesn't pass a RADAR test, it is probably not worth your time.
C - urrent
C ivil - polite discourse
R - elevant
R efindable (with proper citation)
A - uthoritative
A- ccurate
P- urpose - without malice?
P- oint of view - taking potential biases into account?
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