We navigate a vast amount of information from a variety of sources, including the internet, social media, books, journals, and news outlets. Not all information sources are credible and appropriate for college-level research.
As a researcher who wants to become an expert on a topic, you must consider whether the information you find is reliable, valid, authoritative, relevant, and current.
As you encounter information--no matter what type of source it comes from--consider these few questions before you decide to trust it:
Where does the information come from? Who is the author?
Is the information supported by evidence?
Can the information be verified somewhere else?
Does the information seem to be free of bias and emotion?
Are there obvious spelling, grammar or presentation errors?
Is the information given up to date?