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Evaluate a source's credibility before you cite it

You found a source that supports your argument — but is it actually credible, or will it sink your paper's grade?

The prompt — copy and run it

Act as a research-methods TA. I will paste a source (or its abstract + publication details). Help me judge whether to CITE it, and teach me the reasoning so I can do it myself next time. Give me, in three numbered sections:

1) A credibility scorecard: author expertise, publication/peer-review status, recency, funding/bias signals, and evidence quality — each rated with the specific detail that drove the rating.
2) The 3 questions I should ask of ANY source in this field, and how this one answers them.
3) If I cite it: how to represent its claim accurately (not overstated). If I shouldn't: what kind of source would be stronger.

Source: [PASTE ABSTRACT / DETAILS / EXCERPT]
My paper's claim it would support: [ONE SENTENCE]

Rules: Judge only from what I paste — if author credentials or funding aren't stated, say 'unstated, go check' rather than guessing. Never fabricate a citation, DOI, author, or quote. Do not invent any detail about the source; I will verify publication details myself before citing. Never include personal data or real names beyond the author's published details.

Why this prompt works

Students cite weak sources because nobody taught them the screen. Making the model show the detail behind each rating teaches transferable judgment, and the 'never fabricate a citation' rule directly counters the #1 AI-in-research failure (hallucinated references).

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