What does it mean to evaluate a source's credibility? List two criteria.

• A. Reliability of the author/source and the accuracy/truthfulness of information; check date, evidence, citations, bias.
• B. The number of advertisements on the page.
• C. Length of the article.
• D. The source's popularity on social media.

Answer: (A)

Evaluating credibility means judging whether a source is trustworthy and whether the information it presents is accurate and well supported. The best way to judge that is to consider who wrote or produced the source and what they are claiming as fact.

Looking at reliability and accuracy covers both parts. Reliability asks whether the author or source is trustworthy—do they have expertise, credentials, a track record of fairness, and a history of presenting information responsibly? It also includes whether the source is current and whether it provides clear evidence for its claims. Accuracy and truthfulness focus on whether the information is correct, whether it reflects evidence, if claims are supported by data, citations, or references, and whether there’s any visible bias that might color the presentation.

Helpful context: in social studies, you want sources you can trust to reflect well-supported information rather than opinion or misinformation. Checking the date helps ensure you’re using up-to-date facts. Examining the evidence and citations shows whether conclusions are based on solid data. Noting potential bias helps you understand how perspective or purpose might influence what’s included or left out.

Why the other choices don’t fit as the main criteria: the number of advertisements on a page doesn’t determine trustworthiness, and a source with many ads can still be credible if its content is well supported. The length of an article doesn’t guarantee accuracy or depth of evidence. Popularity on social media doesn’t reflect factual accuracy or reliability, since trends can be driven by factors other than quality of information.

In short, credibility hinges on who is providing the information and how well they support their claims with evidence.