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Finding Reliable Sources

Credibility: The quality of being trustworthy, truthful and of good reputation.

Credibility Matters

Your information MUST come from credible sources, like the ones featured on the Research Page of this website.​​

 

Things to be careful of:

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See below for 5 ways to evaluate credibility.

Australian fact-checking sites

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  • RMIT ABC Fact Check

    Tests and adjudicates on the accuracy of claims made by politicians, public figures, advocacy groups and institutions engaged in public debate.

  • The Conversation Fact Check

    The Conversation in Australia checks facts reported in the media with several extra checks and balances, such as a blind peer review by a second academic expert.​

International fact-checking sites

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  • Snopes

    A site that fact checks urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation.

  • FactCheck.org

    A fact checking organisation from the nonpartisan and nonprofit Annenberg Public Policy Center, US.

  • Climate Feedback

    A worldwide network of scientists sorting fact from fiction in climate change media coverage.

Five Ways to Evaluate Credibility:

​1. Authority

  • Who wrote the information? Are they an expert?

  • Do other people reference them?

  • Have they written other things?

  • Who is publishing them? (eg Britannica; Newspaper; Blog)

 

2. Currency

  • When was the information published?

  • Do you need new (current) or historical information?

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3. Content

  • Is the information relevant to your topic?

  • Is the text's target audience appropriate for your needs?

  • Is it high quality, and in appropriate language?

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4. Accuracy​

  • Can you verify the accuracy by checking other sources?

  • Does it base it's ideas on other credible sources?

  • Is it peer-reviewed? (Academic research only)

 

5. Bias

  • Does the author provide both sides of a situation or topic?

  • Is it purely factual, or is it persuasive? (Eg political views; religious perspective; social perspectives or controversial topics?

  • Is the author trying to promote or sell a product/ service?)

  • Was the research sponsored by an organisation?

  • Do other authors agree with the author's point of view?

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Source: University of the Sunshine Coast, 2022

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