Evaluate a source
The idea
Evaluate authorship, evidence, publication context, and relevance. A professional appearance is not proof of reliability. Ask who produced a claim, what supports it, and whether another independent source agrees. A source may be useful for one purpose and unsuitable for another.
Worked example
A personal diary can provide evidence of someone’s experience. It cannot, by itself, establish how everyone in a country lived. A statistical report may support a population claim, but its sample and definitions still matter.
Another application
A news report may be a good starting point, but a claim about a survey should be checked against the survey itself. Inspect who was surveyed, how responses were collected, and whether the headline matches the findings.
A common misunderstanding
A polished design, familiar logo, or high search ranking does not establish that a particular claim is well supported. Evaluate the claim and its evidence.
Try it yourself
Compare two sources on the same topic. Record author, date, main claim, supporting evidence, and one limitation for each.
Check your understanding
Does a recent publication date automatically make a source reliable?
Reveal the explained answer
No. Date affects relevance, but authorship, methods, and evidence must also be examined.