Independent sources facts for kids

The term multiple independent sources means getting information from two or more different people, groups, or things that don't rely on each other. Think of it like this: if two separate people see a car accident, they are independent sources. They both saw it with their own eyes.

But if one person saw the accident and then told their friend about it, the friend wouldn't be an independent source. Why? Because the friend's information comes from the first person, not from seeing it themselves. They depend on the first person. Also, if two witnesses talk about what they saw before telling anyone, they are no longer independent because they might agree to tell the same story.

Another example could be two different scientific tools measuring the same thing. They are independent sources of data, unless they share the same power cord or other connections.

What Are Independent Sources?

Independent sources are separate ways to get information. They are not connected to each other in any way that would make their information the same. This is super important in many areas, like journalism (news reporting), science, and general research.

Why Are Independent Sources Important?

Using multiple independent sources is a great way to find out if information is wrong or if someone is trying to trick you. If different sources say different things, it's a big clue that something might be wrong. It helps people find mistakes or lies.

For example, a famous newspaper called The New York Times has a rule. If they report a fact that isn't from just one person, they need at least two independent sources to confirm it. This helps make sure their news is true and reliable.

What is Circular Reporting?

Sometimes, sources might seem independent, but they are not. This is called circular reporting. It happens when many sources all get their information from the same single source. It's like a circle: Source A tells Source B, Source B tells Source C, and then Source C tells Source A, making it look like many sources agree.

Because circular reporting can happen by accident, it's very important to check carefully. You need to make sure that different sources are truly independent and not secretly connected.

Related pages

• Editorial independence