What is the least reliable evidence?

Asked by: Faye O'Kon IV  |  Last update: January 21, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (12 votes)

Evidence Hierarchy Anecdotal information is the least reliable because not only cannot it not be verified, personal experiences are usually not repeated exactly. See the definition of each type of evidence on the pyramid below.

Which is the least reliable source of evidence?

Physical evidence is the most reliable, and verbal evidence is the least reliable.

Which of the following is the least reliable type of evidence?

documents mailed by outsiders to the auditor. Explanation: 1. Documents mailed by outsiders to the auditor can be the least reliable type of audit evidence because they are external documents that may not have been verified for authenticity or accuracy by the auditor.

What is the least reliable forensic evidence?

Some studies have shown that the field of bite mark analysis likely has the highest error rate of any method of forensic identification (Beety & Oliva, 2019b). Arson investigations have been questioned for their validity because of the lack of qualifications of the arson investigators (Beety & Oliva, 2019a).

What is the least reliable source of information?

Final answer: The least reliable source for a scientific project is likely an unregulated online platform, such as blog comments or web forums due to their typically anecdotal, unbalanced, and non-verifiable nature. Credible nonacademic sources and peer-reviewed academic publications are reliable.

Factors that could Influence Reliability of Evidence

41 related questions found

What evidence is least reliable?

Evidence Hierarchy

Anecdotal information is the least reliable because not only cannot it not be verified, personal experiences are usually not repeated exactly.

What are the 5 unreliable sources?

Five examples of unreliable sources include personal blogs or websites without supportive citations, forums driven by personal opinions, websites with clear bias, user-edited encyclopedias like Wikipedia, and articles from unknown or non-reputable sources.

What type of evidence is generally unreliable?

Eyewitness testimony is far less reliable than it is compelling. Although it's often one of the most influential types of evidence brought to trial, eyewitness testimony is often flawed due to bias, poor visibility or bad police lineups.

What are the weak types of evidence?

Anecdotal & Expert Opinions

Anecdotal evidence is a person's own personal experience or view, not necessarily representative of typical experiences. An expert's standalone opinion, or that given in a written news article, are both considered weak forms of evidence without scientific studies to back them up.

What is the least reliable evidence in court?

Explanation: Tool mark evidence is shown to be the least reliable/valuable for solving a case. Tool mark evidence refers to the analysis of marks left behind by tools, such as screwdrivers or hammers, at a crime scene.

Which type of evidence is overlooked the most?

Footwear and Tire evidence is the most overlooked evidence in the forensic sciences, yet every perpetrator must get to the crime scene in some manner. Whether it's from walking, driving a vehicle, or riding a bike, the potential of footwear or tire evidence being at the crime scene is significant.

What type of evidence is most reliable?

Well done systematic reviews, with or without an included meta-analysis, are generally considered to provide the best evidence for all question types as they are based on the findings of multiple studies that were identified in comprehensive, systematic literature searches.

What is the simplest type of evidence?

Direct Evidence: Direct evidence is acquired firsthand by the witness through their senses, such as sight, hearing, or touch.

Which source would be considered least credible?

Wikipedia can never be considered as a reliable source of information since it can be edited by anyone. However, it can be used when you are first trying to understand the topic. Moreover, there are lots of further links and references that can be useful when doing a research or writing academic papers.

What is the lowest standard of evidence?

In California, there are three main standards of evidence used: preponderance of the evidence, clear and convincing evidence, and beyond a reasonable doubt. The preponderance of the evidence is the lowest standard of proof in a civil case.

What makes evidence not credible?

If the evidence does not meet standards of relevance, the privilege or public policy exists, the qualification of witnesses or the authentication of evidence is at issue, or the evidence is unlawfully gathered, then it is inadmissible.

What is the weakest type of evidence?

Anecdotal evidence is considered the least certain type of scientific information. Researchers may use anecdotal evidence for suggesting new hypotheses, but never as validating evidence. If an anecdote illustrates a desired conclusion rather than a logical conclusion, it is considered a faulty or hasty generalization.

What is not good evidence?

Bad evidence then can be anything which fails to provide a good reason to believe something. An example could be a mother saying the father was late collecting their child from school. In the absence of other evidence supporting her claim. The point here is that anyone can make claims or allegations.

What is the weakest form of evidence in court?

'Preponderance of the evidence' is the lowest standard of proof in the CA court system, and is used exclusively in civil cases.

What is considered weak evidence?

If there's a lack of substantial proof or the evidence against you is mainly circumstantial, this could indicate a weak case. Perhaps they have no witnesses or DNA evidence.

What is the least reliable source of evidence?

The most reliable would be peer-reviewed sources like academic articles and scholarly books. The least reliable would be anonymous social media posts, casual remarks made in informal discussion, personal observation/anecdote, etc.

What is flawed evidence?

Definition. A forensic analyst or other forensic expert presented evidence that was either (1) based on unreliable or unproven methods, (2) expressed with exaggerated and misleading confidence, or (3) fraudulent.

What source is not reliable?

Sources are unreliable when (i) the author doesn't have authority to write on the topic, (ii) the source contains plagiarized or uncited information, or (iii) the source contains inaccurate or false information. Unreliable sources can be books, journal articles, newspaper or magazine articles, websites, blogs, etc.

What is reliable unreliable?

Someone unreliable can't be trusted to do something. Things can be unreliable too, like a bike with a wobbly wheel. The word "rely" is a clue to what unreliable means. When you can rely on something, you can count in it — it's reliable.

What sources should you avoid?

Unacceptable Sources
  • blogs.
  • consultant sites.
  • online encyclopedias (eg. Wikipedia)
  • general online dictionaries.
  • local newspapers.
  • YouTube.