Expertise & Authority
What makes someone an expert?
Look for credentials, experience, and recognition in their field. But remember—expertise exists on a spectrum, and different topics require different types of knowledge.
Before you trust an information source, take a moment to look closer—credibility isn’t always obvious at first glance. Asking a few critical questions can help you decide whether a source is reliable, accurate, and worth using in your work
What makes someone an expert?
Look for credentials, experience, and recognition in their field. But remember—expertise exists on a spectrum, and different topics require different types of knowledge.
Can you verify the information?
Anyone can make claims online. Check if they cite credible sources, provide evidence, or link out to research. Follow the trail of information back to its origin.
Why was this created?
Consider the author's goals—to inform, persuade, sell, or entertain? Understanding motivation helps you spot potential bias.
When was this published or updated?
For rapidly evolving topics like technology or health, recent sources matter most. For historical context, older sources might be valuable too.
Are you seeing the full picture?
Look for different and even opposing viewpoints on the topic. Comparing the perspectives of multiple credible sources helps you build a balanced and well-informed argument.
Does this actually answer your question?
Does this source actually help you answer your research question or support your argument? Make sure the information directly connects to your topic and moves your thinking forward, rather than just sounding interesting or related.
Remember: not every source will be perfect—think in terms of whether it meets your information need rather than expecting it to check every box.
When you’re doing research online, it’s easy to assume that what you find is accurate, but anyone can publish their claims on the internet. That’s why it’s important to pause and check whether what you’re reading can be confirmed in another, credible sources. This is where lateral reading comes in: looking at what other reliable sources say about a website, author, or claim. Professional fact-checkers use this strategy, which will help you spot bias, misinformation, or inaccurate reporting. Lateral reading is a powerful way to make sure that you're using credible sources in your assignments.
How to do it:
Open a new browser tab.
Look up the author or organization—are they credible? What's their perspective?
Search for the claim or key fact—do multiple trusted sources confirm it?
💡 Tip: If a source can't pass a quick lateral reading check, it might not be credible.
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