Trace a claim upstream
The idea
A repeated claim is not necessarily independently verified. Multiple pages may copy a single original source. Trace important claims to their underlying study, document, or observation. Check whether summaries preserve the original limits and definitions.
Worked example
Three articles may repeat one survey. That is one underlying data source, not three independent surveys. Read the survey’s questions and sample before interpreting the articles’ headlines.
Another application
Draw arrows from three articles to the documents they cite. If all arrows reach one press release, return to that release and its underlying evidence rather than counting three confirmations.
A common misunderstanding
Many links can create the appearance of agreement while all depending on one unverified claim. Independence matters as well as quantity.
Try it yourself
Take a factual claim from an article and follow its citation. Record what the original evidence actually supports.
Check your understanding
Do ten reposts necessarily provide ten independent confirmations?
Reveal the explained answer
No. They may all rely on the same source.