Question

You’re ready to write the script for your BookTok video. Your friend agrees to help you choose the best source to include in your BookTok.

You’re considering referring to a journal article published by a professor at Cambridge University that cites the work of several experts in Victorian Gothic literature.

Do you think your friend will agree that this is a credible source?
Question 5 options:

Yes, the article includes all the keywords in your research question.


Yes, the author is a professor at a reputable organization, and they cite experts in the article.


Yes, the author is from England, so they must know a lot about Victorian literature.


Yes, someone at a university wrote the article, so it must be credible.

Answer 1

Yes — option 2.

A professor at a reputable university who cites other experts is a strong sign of credibility: it indicates subject expertise and engagement with scholarly literature. (You should still check the journal or publisher, whether the article is peer‑reviewed, the publication date, and that the citations actually support your point.)

Options 1, 3, and 4 are weaker reasoning: matching keywords alone doesn’t guarantee quality; the author’s nationality isn’t a reliable indicator of expertise; and mere university affiliation isn’t enough without looking at the article’s venue and methodology.