Sources and Research Policy

A source should support the claim attached to it. A long reference list is not a substitute for reading the source, checking its scope and explaining uncertainty.

Source selection

We prioritise Canadian government and provincial program pages for Canadian administrative rules, official education guidance for local procedures, original research for study findings, and recognised professional sources for background explanations. We distinguish a source’s jurisdiction, publication date, purpose and limitations.

What a source does and does not establish

A manufacturer can describe a product feature without proving that it will help a particular learner. A study of one group does not establish an outcome for everyone. A provincial resource cannot automatically explain another province’s policy. We make these limits visible when they affect the reader’s decision.

Research records

Finished guides retain source addresses, check dates and notes describing what each source supports. References are opened rather than generated from memory. If a source cannot be accessed, we do not present it as checked. Proposed research briefs are kept distinct from completed articles.

Time-sensitive information

Eligibility, prices, program rules and product features can change. Readers should confirm current details with the responsible authority before acting. Scheduled guides containing time-sensitive material need another check before release; a previously assigned publication slot is not evidence that the information remains current.

Review claims

We only describe an article as professionally reviewed when a real qualified reviewer has completed a documented review. General editorial checking is different from a clinical, legal or financial opinion.