This guide explores the use of digital methods to study false viral news, political memes, trolling practices and their social life online. It is a project of the Public Data Lab with support from First Draft. The Public Data Lab (publicdatalab.org) is an interdisciplinary network seeking to facilitate research, democratic engagement and public debate around the future of the data society. First Draft (firstdraftnews.com) is dedicated to improving skills and standards in the reporting and sharing of information that emerges online.