There a dozens of acronyms and checklists and methods for evaluating sources. They all add up to one goal, though: helping you make an informed decision about...
Is this source worth listening to?
Is there a named author? Is it published by a reputable organization?
Or is it unclear or unknown?
Do they have any relevant credentials?
Are they discussing their area of expertise?
Are citations provided?
They can have a point of view without being biased!
Is the message crafted to get an emotional response?
Is data cherry-picked?
Is there a topic specialization?
Can you pick up on a recurring tone? Or recurring point of view?
Is there a published or modified date?
Is your topic time-sensitive? (Is this important info?)
Starting your research? Overviews are okay.
Otherwise, seek deeper dives. Use multiple sources to get a look from many angles.
A source doesn't have to be WRONG for us to skip it -- it can just not be trustworthy enough.
It's easy to poke holes when we disagree with something.
Did you go easier on a source because it agreed with you?
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