Module One – What Counts as a Source?

In an age where anyone can upload a video, write a blog post, or go viral with a claim, it’s easy to confuse confidence for credibility.

But not all “sources” are created equal, and learning to tell the difference is the first step toward doing real, meaningful research.

✦ So What Exactly Is a Source?

A source is any material that provides evidence for a claim.

That sounds simple, but whether that evidence is strong, weak, or misleading depends on a few key factors:

Sources aren’t automatically good or bad because someone says they are. You have to look at where the information actually comes from, and whether it can stand up to scrutiny.

✦ Quick Examples

✦ But Why Does This Matter?

Peer-Reviewed Studies When research is published in a peer-reviewed journal, it means other experts in the same field reviewed the methods and conclusions before publication. It doesn’t guarantee perfection, but it acts like a basic quality filter that catches many obvious mistakes and exaggerations.

Random Screenshots Anyone can take a screenshot. Without the original material, context, or methods, you’re taking someone’s word for it, not checking the source yourself. (A surprising amount of misinformation starts exactly this way.)

Videos, Rants, and Viral Accounts Being loud, angry, or charismatic doesn’t make someone a good researcher. If there’s no citation, no link to original material, and no way to double-check the claim, then it’s entertainment, not research.

Government and Educational (.gov and .edu) Sites These aren’t flawless, but they’re often better starting points because they’re tied to institutions that must meet certain standards.

Are they perfect? No. But compared to random blogs or anonymous accounts, they usually have more quality control. 🙂

✦ Primary vs. Secondary Sources

It helps to know the difference:

Both can be useful, but the closer you are to the primary source, the less chance of something being lost, twisted, or “spun.”

If someone tells you “what the study found,” but you never see the study itself, you’re trusting their interpretation, not doing your own research. Whenever possible: go find the original.

✦ Real Sources Leave Trails

A credible source lets you trace a claim back to the beginning.

You should be able to:

If you can’t, if the trail goes cold at a dead-end tweet, a screenshot, or a blog post with no links, that’s your first major red flag. 🔎

✦ You Don’t Need a PhD to Think Critically

You don’t need special degrees or insider connections to do good research. But you do need to ask the right first question whenever you see a bold claim:

Make that question a habit and you’ll be ahead of most people online, and much harder to fool.