DR-201b · Module 1

Evaluating Individual Sources

3 min read

Classifying a source by tier is the first step. The second is evaluating the specific instance. A Tier B analyst report from Goldman Sachs on a sector they cover deeply is different from a Tier B analyst report from a boutique firm covering an unfamiliar market. The tier tells you the category. The evaluation tells you the quality within that category.

Three dimensions matter for individual source evaluation. First, domain expertise: does this source have demonstrated knowledge of the specific subject? A cybersecurity firm commenting on AI regulation is operating outside its domain, regardless of its general credibility. Second, recency: when was this information produced? A competitive analysis from eighteen months ago may describe a market that no longer exists. Third, motivation: what does the source gain by presenting this information in this way? A vendor white paper claiming their product category is growing 40% annually has a clear motivation to inflate the number.

Do This

  • Assess domain expertise — is this source authoritative on this specific topic, not just generally reputable?
  • Check publication date and determine whether the information is still current given market velocity
  • Identify the source's motivation — what do they gain by this information being perceived as true?

Avoid This

  • Assume a prestigious brand name means the specific report is high quality — Goldman Sachs publishes weak analysis too
  • Treat information as current without checking the date — research ages fast in technology markets
  • Ignore that every source has a perspective — even legal filings are written to frame a narrative within the bounds of accuracy