Questions to ask when assessing a source's trustworthiness

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🧐 Consider the Source: Who created the information? Look for reputable organizations, experts, or institutions.
• ✍️ Author's Credentials: What are the author's qualifications related to the topic? Are they an expert?
• 📅 Publication Date: Is the information current and up-to-date? Outdated information may be inaccurate.
• 🎯 Purpose & Bias: Why was the information created? Is the source objective, or does it have a particular agenda or bias?
• 🔗 Supporting Evidence: Does the source provide evidence, data, or citations to back up its claims?
• ✅ Accuracy & Verifiability: Can the information be verified by cross-referencing with other reliable sources?
• ⚖️ Tone & Style: Is the language professional and objective, or is it sensationalized or emotionally charged?

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is the MOST important initial question to ask when assessing a source's trustworthiness?

   1. A. What is the source's website design?
   2. B. Who created the information and are they reputable?
   3. C. How many advertisements are on the page?
   4. D. Is the font easy to read?

2. What does it mean to consider the author's credentials when evaluating a source?

   1. A. Checking if the author has a social media presence.
   2. B. Determining if the author is popular.
   3. C. Evaluating the author's qualifications and expertise related to the topic.
   4. D. Ignoring the author and focusing only on the content.

3. Why is the publication date important when assessing a source?

   1. A. Newer sources are always more accurate.
   2. B. Outdated information might be inaccurate or irrelevant.
   3. C. Older sources are more trustworthy.
   4. D. The publication date is never important.

4. What is 'bias' in the context of evaluating a source?

   1. A. The author's favorite color.
   2. B. The author's objective and neutral perspective.
   3. C. A particular agenda, perspective, or leaning that may affect the information presented.
   4. D. The number of pages in the source.

5. What should you look for in a trustworthy source regarding supporting evidence?

   1. A. Strong opinions without any data.
   2. B. Personal anecdotes and stories.
   3. C. Evidence, data, and citations to back up claims.
   4. D. Emotional appeals and persuasive language only.

6. What does it mean to 'verify' information from a source?

   1. A. Believing everything you read.
   2. B. Ignoring the source completely.
   3. C. Cross-referencing the information with other reliable sources to confirm its accuracy.
   4. D. Trusting the first source you find.

7. Why is the tone and style of a source important to consider?

   1. A. Because sensationalized language is always more engaging.
   2. B. Because the tone and style don't affect trustworthiness.
   3. C. Because a professional and objective tone suggests greater credibility.
   4. D. Because emotional language is always a sign of truth.