Evaluating Information/Daily Practice: Evaluating Information

Here’s an “Evaluating Information” Daily Practice Checklist, developed from the Evaluating Information Wikiversity content.^[1] It helps you distinguish accurate, factual, and objective content from misinformation, hone digital literacy, and strengthen your critical thinking.

• Start your day by affirming that true, accurate information is valuable for sound decision-making, relationships, and societal trust.
• Recognize that refuting falsehood often takes far more effort than creating it—and that vigilance is essential.
• Set your goal: “I will pause and verify before accepting information as factual.”

A. Identify Credible Information

• Look for indicators of accuracy, verifiability, and objectivity:
  • Is the information factually correct and backed by independent sources?
  • Are there verifiable data, citations, or first-hand accounts?

B. Recognize Misinformation & Propaganda

• Watch for signs of misleading or deceptive content, including:
  • Emotional manipulation, distorted facts, or persuasive framing with little transparency
• Build digital literacy by questioning unexpected claims—especially those shared via social media or viral content.

C. Cultivate Skepticism & Critical Thinking

• Before accepting information as true, ask:
  • What is the source? Is it reliable?
  • Have I verified it via independent sources?
• Apply critical thinking: assess claims through logic and acknowledge when barriers like bias or superficial reasoning appear.

• Engage with the “Fact or Fiction?” exercises on the course—identifying accurate information, spotting propaganda tactics, and testing digital content reliability.
• Reflect on your motivations: Are you inclined toward convenience or comfort over truth? Strive to anchor yourself in intellectual virtues, like honesty, curiosity, and openness.

Use these prompts at the end of your day:

1. What information caught my attention today? Where did I naturally trust or doubt it?
2. Did I evaluate claims before accepting them? How did I assess credibility and bias?
3. What deceptive cues did I avoid—or fall for?
4. How did choosing true, verified information benefit me today?
5. What is one improvement I can make tomorrow in digital literacy or skepticism?

1. ↑ ChatGPT generated this text responding to the prompt: “Generate an ‘Evaluating Information’ daily practice checklist based on the materials at: https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Evaluating_Information”.