--- title: "Checking a Model's Claim Against a Source" description: "Checking a model's claim means inspecting relevant external evidence, judging the source and comparing the exact claim with its original context. Record what is supported, contradicted or unconfirmed " canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/checking-a-models-claim-against-a-source-mt_Qh4Pnnfqv2 source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/checking-a-models-claim-against-a-source-mt_Qh4Pnnfqv2.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Checking a Model's Claim Against a Source Checking a model's claim means inspecting relevant external evidence, judging the source and comparing the exact claim with its original context. Record what is supported, contradicted or unconfirmed before using it. Subject: Computing · Area: Artificial Intelligence · Ages 15 to 16 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/checking-a-models-claim-against-a-source-mt_Qh4Pnnfqv2 ## Ready when they can - Identify factual claims relevant to the task and prioritize those with important consequences - Inspect a credible external source and compare its relevant passage with the exact claim, or record that support was not found - Distinguish a model-produced citation from evidence that a source exists and supports the claim ## Lesson: Checking what a model tells you Prioritize factual claims that matter to your task or could cause harm if mistaken. Names, dates, numbers, quotations and source references often need checking. A greeting with no factual content does not. Confident wording shows how an answer is presented; it does not prove that its claims were checked. To check a claimed study result, open the external source, confirm its identity and judge its reliability for the subject. Read the relevant passage in context and compare it with the exact claim. A study can exist without supporting that claim. Open a genuine supplied citation directly, or search independently when needed. Another page repeating the assertion is not independent support. *(drawing: Use the actual source, whether reached through a citation or a search.)* Models can invent realistic titles, authors and links. Check a citation against an actual publisher page or reliable publication record. A plausible reference is only a lead. Repeating the model's description does not inspect the external source. **Example.** An invented report says 6 of 10 surveyed pupils chose cycling. Half of 10 is 5, so 6 supports 'most surveyed pupils chose cycling'. It does not support 'all pupils chose cycling'. Check both the quantity and which people the report describes. If you cannot find adequate support, omit the claim or clearly label it unconfirmed. Do not present it as verified. Failure to find support is not proof that the claim is false. Evidence that contradicts it is a different result. Read surrounding sentences and dates. A scheduled event is not a completed event. A record of ordering materials is not a record of using them. Preserve these distinctions when comparing a model's claim with a source. **Recap.** Inspect the external source and compare its passage with the exact claim. Keep existence, support, contradiction and uncertainty separate. *Lesson, questions and cards written for this dataset.* ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Writing a Prompt That Says What You Actually Want](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/writing-a-prompt-that-says-what-you-actually-want-mt_dJ5-SDX3Ck) ## Optional connections - [Research & Source Evaluation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/research-and-source-evaluation-mt_Qcsl1Z1x0l) ## Opens up - [What You Owe a Reader When a Model Helped](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/what-you-owe-a-reader-when-a-model-helped-mt_VsUSovHzfI)