If an author is listed but there is no information about their qualifications, what is a prudent next step?

• A. Use other pages by the same author to infer credibility.
• B. Accept the article as credible because the author is named.
• C. Assume the content is biased and discard.
• D. Look up the author's credentials and affiliations from other credible sources.

Answer: (D)

When credibility hinges on expertise, you want to verify that the author actually has the background to speak on the topic. If qualifications aren’t listed, the prudent next step is to look up the author’s credentials and affiliations from other credible sources. This helps you confirm whether the author has relevant expertise, what organization they’re connected with, and whether there’s any potential conflict of interest. It also flags whether the publication venue is reputable and whether the author’s work is recognized in the field.

Relying on other pages by the same author to infer credibility isn’t dependable, since those pages may cover different topics or omit verification details. Merely knowing an author is named doesn’t guarantee trustworthiness, and accepting the article as credible without checking can be risky. Discarding the content outright because the credentials aren’t listed can omit useful information, especially if you can quickly verify important qualifications elsewhere. So, the best move is to verify the author’s credentials and affiliations through independent, credible sources.