A familiar website can still contain a weak claim
A student finds a dramatic scientific statement online. The page looks professional, but the evidence is unclear. Source credibility means examining authorship, methods, context and whether the claim can be checked.
Identify the actual claim
Separate what the source reports from what the student concludes. Strong language such as proves or always deserves careful examination.
Look for evidence and methods
A source that describes observations, comparisons and limitations gives readers more to evaluate than one offering only confident assertions.
Authority is relevant but not sufficient
Expertise and institutional reputation can help, but even credible sources may be outdated, misquoted or unsuitable for a particular question.
Check date and context
Scientific knowledge develops. An older source may remain valuable for fundamentals while being unsuitable for a recent technical claim.
Compare independent evidence
When feasible, consult other reliable sources and examine whether they support the same conclusion for the same reasons.
Teach students to revise
Changing a conclusion after better evidence appears is responsible scientific practice, not embarrassment.
Break-test: two credible sources disagree
Can the learner compare their methods, populations and definitions before declaring one false?
Connected learning
See Scientific Claim Verification, Scientific Evidence Evaluation and MOE Syllabuses.