source-validation

id	source-validation
name	Source Validation
version	1.0.0
layer	skill
runtime	docs
author	home23
description	Validate claims and sources for credibility, recency, provenance, and likely bias before you rely on them.
category	research
keywords	["source","validate","credibility","bias","primary source","provenance","recency"]
triggers	["is this source trustworthy","validate this claim","check the source quality","is this a primary source"]
capabilities	[{"validate":"inspect a claim or source for trustworthiness and limits"}]

Source Validation

Use this skill before you promote a claim to fact.

When to use

Use source-validation for:

• checking whether a source is primary or derivative
• validating recency-sensitive claims
• spotting bias, missing provenance, or circular citation
• comparing multiple sources on the same claim

Workflow

1. Identify the claim being validated.
2. Find the closest primary source available.
3. Check date, authorship, and provenance.
4. Look for disagreement or unsupported jumps in secondary summaries.
5. Rate confidence and explain why.

Output

• Claim
• Best supporting source
• Source type: primary, secondary, tertiary
• Risks or bias
• Confidence

Gotchas

• Popularity is not evidence.
• A recent article can still be derivative and weak.
• If the claim is unsettled, report the uncertainty instead of forcing a verdict.

Examples

Validate this claim before we cite it:
"Company X signed the deal on April 12."
Prefer the primary filing or official announcement over commentary.