The institution that publishes material (university, business, government) has a share in determining how much faith you should put in that source, but how about the individual author(s)?
When determining the credibility of an author, you can consider their qualifications, the source's accuracy and the presence of bias. You can also check the source's reputation, the timeliness of its content, and the evidence it provides.
Qualifications
- Does the author have advanced degrees in their field?
- Are they affiliated with a reputable organization?
- Do they have relevant experience?
Accuracy
- Is the information consistent and accurate?
- Does the author use proper citations?
- Does the information agree with other reliable sources?
Bias
- Is the information biased and Does the bias affect the conclusions.
Timeliness
- Is the information up-to-date?
- Is the information relevant to the current situation?
Evidence
- Does the author use facts, data, or examples to support their claims?
- Is the evidence clear and convincing?
Reputation
- What is the reputation of the source?
- Is the source published in a reputable journal or newspaper?
Purpose and audience
- Does the source have a clear purpose and audience?
- Is the tone and style appropriate?
