Did the information come from a reputable source? For example, does it come from a known newspaper such as The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal, etc? Do you recognize the title of the source? What kind of expertise or knowledge from the author gives credibility to the information being shared? Also, does the source you are receiving your information from share where they have found this information or other evidence that supports their claims?
Tip: If you are looking at news on the web, check out the URL and the website. Look at the "about" section of the website. Is there anything there that seems suspicious? What are some of the other headlines on that site?
Don't just look at the headline! Read the content. Does it match what the headline is saying? Is this an article or does it seem more of an opinion piece/editorial? Does the information seem accurate based upon information that you already know to be true? Are there any links included in the article that lead you to more information from a reliable source?
Can the information in your source be verified in another reputable source as well? Does the original source show bias to a particular side or viewpoint? Check another source to see if information is found on the same story and compare the information found in the two.
(And if you're curious, Snopes has a Fake News Archive.)
Watch this quick video that can help show why checking multiple sources is important:
There are various fact checking sites that can be used to verify the accuracy of claims made in the news. Below are some examples:
Looking at reports of polling? FiveThirtyEight has created a list of ratings for various polling groups based on historical accuracy and potential bias.
| Reference & Research Help Contact Information | |
| In-Person | Visit us at the Reference Desk during our hours. |
| refdesk@bentley.edu | |
| Phone | 781.891.2300 |
| Text | 781.728.0511 |
| Live Chat |
|
| Research Help Hours (Fall 2024) | |||
| Sunday | Monday - Wednesday | Thursday - Friday | Saturday |
| 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm | 8:30 am - 9:00 pm | 8:30 am - 4:30 pm | Closed |
| All Hours are in Eastern Time. Hours are subject to change on holidays or for unforeseen circumstances. For up-to-date information, check the online calendar. | |||
Research Consultations: Research Help by Appointment
Research Consultations are scheduled one-on-one meetings with a reference librarian. You can also schedule these consultations for a small group. Consultations usually last 30 minutes and take place during Reference Librarian Hours as listed above. 48 hours advanced notice required.
Research Guides
Research Guides are resources created by Bentley Librarians to guide you through research. These guides will contain a map of best bet resources of where to find information and search tips to make the research process easier. A research guide may include a list of relevant databases to search in, suggested search terms, recommended book titles, lists of websites, and more. Browse our list of Research Guides to see if one has been created for your class, a subject area, or a topic you are researching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bentley Librarians keep a database of some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (and answers!) by the Bentley Community. Browse our FAQs to see if your question has already been answered!