Evaluate source reliability
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Learning Objectives
- 1Define source reliability and explain why it matters
- 2Apply a five-point check (author, date, domain, citations, bias) to any source
- 3Compare the domain endings .gov, .edu, .org, and .com to judge trust
- 4Rate sources as trustworthy or questionable using clear evidence
Mini Lesson
A SOURCE is any place a fact comes from — a book, an article, a website, a video, a podcast. Some sources are RELIABLE (their facts can be trusted) and some are QUESTIONABLE (their facts may be wrong, biased, or made up). A strong reader does not believe everything on a screen. They run a quick check on every source before they use it.
The five reliability checks
- Author — Is there a real, named author with relevant expertise? Anonymous = warning sign.
- Date — When was it written or last updated? Old facts may be out of date; missing dates are suspicious.
- Domain — Is it a .gov, .edu, .org, or .com? Government, school, and museum sites are usually safer.
- Citations — Does the source cite its own evidence, or just make claims? Real research shows its work.
- Bias — Is the page trying to inform or to sell, anger, or trick? Heavy ads or extreme tone = caution.
What domain endings tell you
- .gov — official government agency. Usually reliable for laws, statistics, science.
- .edu — university or college. Usually reliable for research articles and education pages.
- .org — non-profit organization. Often reliable, but check who runs it.
- .com — commercial site. Anyone can buy one — quality varies a LOT.
Looking professional is not the same as being reliable. A glossy ad page can look more polished than a real research article. Always check WHO wrote it, not just how it looks.
A trustworthy source can survive every check. If even ONE of the five checks fails, slow down — find a second source before you use the fact.
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