Source Verification

Overview

This skill defines how to verify information before using it in any deliverable. Agent hallucination and outdated information can cause serious downstream problems. Use this skill whenever incorporating facts, citations, specifications, or claims from any source other than direct knowledge.

When to Use

• When citing statistics, figures, or factual claims
• When referencing standards, regulations, or compliance requirements
• When quoting or paraphrasing from external sources
• When making technical claims about systems, tools, or capabilities
• When recommending approaches based on market or competitive intelligence
• Don't use when: Expressing opinion, creative content, or common knowledge within your domain expertise

Core Procedures

Step 1: Identify Claims Requiring Verification

Flag any statement that:

• Includes specific numbers, dates, or measurements
• References external standards, laws, or regulations
• Makes factual claims (not analysis or opinion)
• Cites another person, organization, or source
• Uses words like "according to," "research shows," "studies prove"

Step 2: Assess Source Credibility

Rate source on these dimensions:

Dimension	High Credibility	Low Credibility
Authority	Subject matter expert, official source	Anonymous, unattributed
Currency	Published within last year	Published 3+ years ago
Methodology	Peer-reviewed, tested, validated	Opinion, anecdote, unverified
Bias	Independent, multiple viewpoints	Single interest, advocacy
Corroboration	Confirmed by multiple independent sources	Only source makes this claim

Step 3: Verification Actions

Based on claim type, perform appropriate verification:

STATISTICAL/EVIDENCE CLAIMS:

• Find original source of the data (not secondary citation)
• Check sample size, methodology, and margins of error
• Compare with at least one other source for corroboration
• Note any limitations or caveats from original source

REGULATORY/COMPLIANCE CLAIMS:

• Verify against official regulatory body publication
• Check effective date and any pending changes
• Confirm applicability to current context (jurisdiction, industry)
• Note any pending challenges or interpretations

TECHNICAL/PRODUCT CLAIMS:

• Check official documentation or release notes
• Verify version number and applicability
• If possible, test or confirm with direct observation
• Note any known issues or limitations

MARKET/COMPETITIVE CLAIMS:

• Cross-reference with multiple market research sources
• Check date of information (markets change rapidly)
• Note source's potential bias (vendor reports favor vendors)
• Distinguish between fact and analyst opinion

Step 4: Document Verification

For each verified claim, record:

Claim: [what was stated]
Source: [where it came from, with URL/citation]
Verification: [what was done to confirm it]
Confidence: [HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW with reasoning]
Status: [VERIFIED / UNVERIFIED / DISPUTED]

Step 5: Act on Verification Results

• VERIFIED (HIGH confidence): Use freely in deliverables
• VERIFIED (MEDIUM confidence): Use with appropriate caveats
• UNVERIFIED: Either find alternative source or explicitly label as unconfirmed
• DISPUTED: Present competing evidence, recommend further research

Quality Checklist

• All factual claims identified and verified
• Sources are authoritative, current, and credible
• Independent corroboration obtained where possible
• Unverifiable claims clearly labeled as such
• Confidence level documented for each claim
• Disputed claims include both sides of evidence

Error Handling

• Error: Source is unavailable or behind paywall Response: Find alternative credible source, note original is unavailable
• Error: Sources contradict each other Response: Present contradiction, escalate to research specialist (Scholar, Explorer, Alex) for resolution
• Error: Original source is primary data requiring expertise to evaluate Response: Flag expertise gap, escalate to domain specialist agent
• Error: Time pressure doesn't allow full verification Response: Deliver with explicit confidence levels, schedule follow-up verification

Cross-Team Integration

Related Skills: knowledge-retrieval, competitive-analysis, research-methodology, conflict-resolution Used By: Researchers (Scholar, Explorer, Alex, Analyst, Oracle), ALL agents when citing external information