A reference tells you where a statement came from. It does not guarantee that the cited source supports every later interpretation of it. Following the reference is a practical way to check whether a claim has kept the population, methods and limits of the original work.
Find the source being cited
Match the title, authors, date and publication identifier. Check that you are reading the paper named in the reference, not a similarly titled article or a news summary. Record whether you could access the full paper or only its abstract.
Locate the supporting passage
Look for the actual result, table or explanation behind the statement. If you cannot find it, keep the claim unresolved. A source discussing a broad research area is not necessarily evidence for a specific outcome, material or use.
Check the kind of document
A journal article, a registry record, a supplier document and a marketing page have different roles. Identify the type before combining information. A certificate of analysis can support a reported batch test; it does not replace evidence about a clinical outcome.
Keep updates visible
Note corrections, withdrawals or later versions when they are present. Save the date you accessed the source and retain a clear link between a revised note and the reason for the revision. Avoid silently replacing an earlier conclusion in a shared record.
For laboratory material records, see how to build a batch record. For reading records, use the journal’s organisation guide. These practices support traceability; they do not certify a claim as true merely because it has a citation.
Sources
NCCIH: references. NLM: PubMed basics.
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