How I Decide What to Trust When Doing Desk Research
- Otewa O. David
- May 12
- 3 min read
Let me be honest—researching things online these days can feel like walking through a minefield. Everyone’s got an opinion, stats are thrown around like confetti, and half the time you’re left wondering, “Wait, is this even true?”
If you’ve ever found yourself buried in open tabs, unsure which source is reliable and which is just a polished-sounding mess, you’re not alone. Over time, especially through content work, academic projects, and even just helping clients dig up solid info, I’ve built my way of filtering through the noise.
So here’s my no-fluff process for evaluating the credibility of sources when I’m doing desk research—and why it’s become a bit of a non-negotiable for me.
1. Start With Who Wrote It
The first thing I check is: Who’s behind this information?
If there’s no author name, no bio, no trace of credentials, I pause. Not every source needs to be academic, but I want to know the person has at least some skin in the game—a researcher, a journalist, a professional with lived experience, something.
If it’s backed by a university, government agency, or well-known media outlet? Even better.
2. Ask “What’s the Goal Here?”
Every piece of content exists for a reason. Some are written to inform. Others? To sell, provoke, or stir up engagement (think clickbait headlines and viral threads).
I try to read with that in mind:
Is this trying to help me understand something?
Or is it trying to make me believe something before showing me the facts?
Once I started reading this way, I became more selective and saved myself from rabbit holes of bad info.
3. Check the Date (Seriously)
This one seems obvious, but I’ve made the mistake before.
I once pulled a “current” stat for a client pitch and only later realized the article was from 2014. Ouch.
Now, I always scan for when something was published—and if it’s older than a couple of years (unless it’s historical or foundational), I’ll look for a fresher perspective.
4. Look for Proof, Not Just Pretty Words
You’d be surprised how convincing bad information can sound if it's wrapped in smart language. That’s why I ask:
“Where are they getting this from?”
Reliable content will often cite:
Studies
Surveys
Interviews
Real data
Or at the very least, link to where it came from
If it’s all opinion and no receipts, I keep scrolling.
5. Cross-Check With Other Sources
One of my non-negotiables: if it sounds too good (or wild) to be true, I look it up elsewhere.
The more independent, unrelated sources I can find backing the same info, the more I trust it. If just one sketchy blog is shouting about it and no one else is? I assume it’s shaky until proven otherwise.
6. Watch the URL
This is a quick trick. Sites ending in .gov, .edu, or .org tend to be more trustworthy, especially for factual info or research.
I’m also cautious of sketchy-looking domains that try to imitate real ones
(e.g. cnn-news.online instead of cnn.com).
Design matters too. If the site is covered in ads, popups, or feels like it’s from 2005, I question the credibility immediately.
A Quick Example From My Workflow
Recently, I was writing a piece about teen mental health trends. I found two sources:
A blog post titled “TikTok Is Ruining Gen Z”. No author, no data—just a long opinion.
A peer-reviewed study from the Journal of Adolescent Health, which used survey data from over 10,000 teens across the U.S.
Needless to say, I went with the second one. Not just because it had data, but because I could trust who wrote it, how they got their info, and why it existed.
My Takeaway (and Hopefully Yours Too)
Here’s the deal: In a world where literally anyone can hit “publish,” the responsibility to vet what we consume is on us.
It’s not about being paranoid or hypercritical—it’s about slowing down enough to ask:
“Is this solid, or just loud?”
And trust me, the more you practice it, the faster it becomes second nature.
Final Word
Good research isn’t about knowing all the answers. It’s about knowing how to ask the right questions—especially when it comes to your sources.
Whether you're a writer, student, business owner, or just someone who’s tired of falling for dodgy headlines—this mindset will save you time, energy, and your reputation.
If this helped, feel free to share—or drop a comment if you’ve got your own research tips. Always love learning from others too.
Sources & Further Reading
Purdue Online Writing Lab. Evaluating Sources of Information. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/evaluating_sources_of_information
Cornell University Library. Five Criteria for Evaluating Sources. https://guides.library.cornell.edu/criticallyanalyzing
University of Maryland Libraries. Recognizing Bias.https://lib.guides.umd.edu/evaluatingbias
Stanford University. Students Have Trouble Judging the Credibility of Information Online. https://ed.stanford.edu/news/stanford-researchers-find-students-have-trouble-judging-credibility-information-online
Harvard Library. Evaluating Information: Applying the CRAAP Test. https://guides.library.harvard.edu/evaluating
Comments