Reliability assessment guidelines

Videos on assessing sources' reliability and using Google Scholar:

What is the type of the source?How to find?Reliability rate
Peer-reviewed research papers, especially meta-studies, systematic literature reviews and similar are at the top of reliability hierarchy. They are followed by large scale studies with big sample sizes or having data form different countries/research institutions. Though, be careful with the study papers having a very limited sample size - try to find other research papers that confirm their findings.

Research databases:

Statistics / information published by relevant and trustable (inter)national organisations (.org): WHO, United Nations, Eurostat, national research academies, NASA, The Royal Society, websites of well-known universities, etc.
Well-known encyclopedias
Modern textbooks
Governmental websites (in nations with elected, democratic governments)
Popular science books/magazines published by well-known experts in an area (cited sources are traceable)
Reputable newspapers who use fact check, other media releases of well-known experts in an area. ...
  • Life style magazines
  • Web-sites of business companies
  • Personal blogs, vlogs, etc.
  • Politically driven sources (e.g. newspapers driven by clear political agenda - especially far right and and far left)
  • Social media posts, etc.
Who is the author (if any)?
(Who is behind this information?)
How to detect?Reliability rate
If a scientist / researcherAre his/her credits (affiliation, educational degrees, publications, awards as claimed) traceable? (E.g. using GoogleScholar, or a nation database of scientists; Estonian researchers can be found at www.etis.ee)
Has (s)he expertise in a given area?
If a well-known expert in a given areaAre his/her credits (affiliation, educational degrees, publications, awards as claimed) traceable?
If an organisation
Nature of the contentIndicatorsReliability rate
Publisher’s relationship on the topicBalanced / neutral
Publisher is sponsored by a trusted source (e.g. European Commission, etc.) ...
Clearly biased or favoring a position for a purpose
Date
NB! Not all outdated sources must be unreliable - in case they are often cited means, that they have a big impact.
Recently published or revised
Outdated
No date listed
Text credibilityThe purpose is to inform or teach
The tone is convincing, but not pushing.
The text has specific facts and details to support the ideas
The purpose is to entertain
The purpose is to persuade, the text is emotionally loaded
The purpose is to scare
The purpose is to sell something