Source triangulation: three-way check against bias

Source triangulation means you verify a claim by cross-checking it against multiple independent and credible sources, not just one. The key contrast is between genuine independence and mere repetition: if three news sites all carry the same wire story, that is one source, not three. Real triangulation requires sources that differ in origin, perspective, or methodology, such as a government report, an academic study, and a reputable news investigation.

To spot fake triangulation in an exam, look for identical wording, same publication date, or references that all trace back to a single press release. A useful trick is to ask: would these sources disagree if the claim were false? If they all parrot the same line, they are not independent. Also, check the source type: a blog citing the same press release as a newspaper adds no new evidence. Prioritise primary sources (original data, official documents) over secondary summaries.

Remember the test: if you can delete all but one source and still have the same information, you have not triangulated. A compact way to recall this is the 'three different publishers, three different methods' rule. For a quick self-check, imagine explaining the claim to a colleague and listing three sources that could each be wrong for different reasons.