Who says? (Source)

Assess author and publication credibility

Scan Vertically

Check how the author and publication describe themselves on the page.

On the source page, look towards the top or bottom of the page for an 'About Us' link. 

• Purpose: What is the group's mission or purpose?
• Audience: Who is the target audience?
• Quality Control: How does the publication review and verify its content?

Scroll down the page to find the author bio.

• Author Expertise: Look for biographical information provided by the publication. What credentials or experience qualify this author to address this topic? 

Read Laterally

Move outside the source to investigate what others say about the author and publication

Open a new tab and search for the source and its author to see what other sites, like Wikipedia, say about them. Here are some questions to consider:

• What do other sources say about the author and publication? This helps gauge their credibility and reputation.
• What is the author's background and perspective? Recognizing the author's viewpoint can help reveal how it influences the information presented.
• How long has the publication been established? A longer history may indicate reliability, while newer sources might require more scrutiny.

How do they know? (Evidence)

Investigate the sources used to support the author’s key claims to determine whether they’ve been accurately represented.

Look for Supporting Sources

• Links: Click to make sure they work and go where they should.
• Citations: Copy article titles into a search engine to a) confirm the source exists and b) locate the full-text to check the content.
• Source Identifiers: Look for descriptive terms written into the sentences (such as author names, publication dates, source names, and main topics) that can help you locate sources through targeted searches in another browser tab.
• No Evidence: Search the web to independently verify the claim.
• See the Diving Deeper with Video Tutorials for more on how to find the original reporting source.

Check for Accurate Representation

Ctrl+F it: Locate the original source material and compare it to how it's presented. Use your browser's search function (Ctrl+F/Command+F) to find the specific quoted text or key concepts. Check if the meaning and context have been preserved as the original author intended.

Note: If you can't locate a cited source but would like to track it down, ask a librarian for assistance.

Could they be wrong? (Reasoning)

Examine the text for for potential fallacies or biases. Consider your own biases as well. Could the author (or you) be wrong?

Check for Errors in Reasoning: Are there flaws in how conclusions were reached?

Key logical fallacies to watch for:

• False Cause (correlation ≠ causation): Mistaking what is happening with why it is happening
• Single Cause (oversimplification): Attributing a single cause when multiple causes are in play
• Hasty Generalization (jumping to conclusions): Drawing conclusions on too small a sample size
• False Dilemma (only two options presented): Oversimplifying a complex situation into an either/or choice when more options exist
• See the Diving Deeper with Video Tutorials for more on bad or irrelevant evidence, errors in reasoning, misleading graphs, and reverse searching images.

Check for Cognitive Biases: Are personal beliefs influencing judgment?

Key cognitive biases to watch for

• Confirmation bias: Favoring information that confirms existing beliefs while dismissing contradictory evidence.
• Motivated reasoning: Interpreting information in ways that support preferred beliefs or desired outcomes.
• Availability bias: Overestimating the importance of easily remembered or recent examples.
• Selection bias: Cherry-picking evidence that supports a viewpoint while ignoring contradictory information.
• See the Understanding Bias for more information

Is there another interpretation or explanation? (Verification)

Consider different points of view and cross-check key claims to assess validity

Seek Alternative Perspectives: What different interpretations exist?

• Search for competing explanations
• Look for opposing expert views
• Benefits: reveals potential biases, challenges assumptions, and broadens understanding beyond a single viewpoint

Cross-check Key Claims: Do multiple reliable sources support these claims?

Focus on controversial, high-stakes, or unclear information that could impact decisions.

• Compare at least three reliable sources
• Identify where sources agree and disagree
• Determine level of support for the claim
• Benefits: Shows what experts agree on, reveals significant differences, and builds confidence in verified claims