Evaluating Credible Sources in Public Health

In public health research, not all sources are created equal. With so much information available—from scholarly articles to social media posts and AI-generated content—it’s important to know how to tell what’s trustworthy.

This guide introduces key strategies for evaluating sources, including:

• Assessing Credibility: Who created the information? What are their qualifications? Is the source biased or trying to persuade?
• Lateral Reading: Don’t just stay on one page: open new tabs, check other sources, and see what experts say.
• Thinking Critically Across Platforms: Whether you're using library databases, Google, social media, or AI tools, always ask: Is this reliable? Is it evidence-based?