Primary source verification requires opening the source, identifying its author or issuing body, locating the relevant evidence, and checking that the claim matches the source's wording, scope, date, method, and uncertainty. A citation is not verified merely because the page exists.
Primary sources can still be incomplete or wrong, so verification also considers methodology, context, corrections, and corroboration. For high-stakes topics, reviewers should prefer authoritative originals and clearly disclose when only secondary reporting or an inaccessible source is available.
Examples include original research, official records, direct statements, raw datasets, first-hand observations, and the actual document being discussed.
How do you verify that a citation supports a claim?
Open the cited page, locate the relevant passage or data, compare scope and wording, and check context, date, methodology, and limitations.
