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WRD098 Wilder-Tack

Learn about verifying the accuracy of facts and claims in a political speech using SIFT.

What is a credible source?

"Quality" ribbon - clipart.It depends.

Credibility depends on your expectations about the piece of information as a whole, and the context in which you're using it.

I find that asking myself these questions helps me decide if information is credible to me. Note that there are no right answers to these questions. Answers are personal to you.

  • How old is this information and does that matter?
  • Does this information seem trustworthy to me?
  • If this is an opinion piece, is it fact-based or totally coming out of left field?
  • What kind of reaction do I have to this information?
  • Can I identify an author?
  • Do I trust the publisher of this information (could be a website, blog, magazine, corporation)?
  • Does this source ask questions? Is it philosophical or curious or demanding?
  • Is the source long enough to actually share good, meaty information?
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