You may think . . .
"It's published, so I can use it." Well, maybe. If it's published by a legitimate publisher (the books and magazines in the library are!) or if it appears in a database, the information is reliable. But it might not be a good source because of its focus, publication date, or type (for example, a popular magazine if your instructor wants you to use a scholarly journal).
"It came up on the first page of results when I searched the database." Hold on! Many databases put their results in date order. What comes up first are the most recent articles. They may not be the ones that are best for your research.
"I did a search on Google, and it was one of the first sites, and Google has relevancy ranking." Slow down! Searching on the Web brings you face-to-face with the need for evaluating sources for reliability AND appropriateness to the project. Look at those sites critically!
Want to learn more tips for spotting fake news? Check out this guide on identifying and avoiding fake news from Indiana University.
Rumors are sometimes difficult to research. You may have to do a bit of background history of why this rumor started, and what events have eroded trust to get to this point. Rumors sometimes grow into conspiracy theories. Be extra cautious researching conspiracy, as it become very easy to get TOO involved in the conspiracy. Use critical thinking, and try to examine both sides.
The topic of "rumors" may have several different keywords associated with it:
Gossip
Conspiracy
Conspiracy theories
Misinformation
Disinformation
False rumors against a person are sometimes referred to as:
lies
slander
libel
defamation