Checking the Validity of your Research

When we determine that a source is "good," we say that it has validity. But how can you determine if the source you're consulting is valid? Here's a few questions to consider:

·       Who is the author of the source? What are his or her credentials - is her or she a recognized expert in the field? Are they representing an organisation? If so, what is the organisation's mission and goals? If you're unsure, try doing a Google search on the author or their organization.

·       How did the source get its information? If the source includes references, look at a few of the references - do they look like reliable sources of information? Does it look like the author is citing the source correctly? Use your best judgment!

·       What if the source you've found doesn't have references? If a source doesn't include references, see if you can fact check the information in other ways. For example, if you're looking at a news article that quotes experts in a field, do a Google search of the expert's name and see what information you can find on him or her.