I am an author completing a nonfiction book on wellness, with a strong emphasis on social science, public health, and behavioral research. The book contains approximately 200–250 citations across 11 chapters (plus introduction and author's note), and I need a skilled research assistant to verify every reference before the manuscript goes to my publisher.
• *What the work involves:**
• Reviewing each citation in the manuscript and locating the original primary source (peer-reviewed journal articles, government reports, books, news articles, videos)
• Confirming that author names, publication years, journal names, volume/issue numbers, page numbers, and article numbers are all correct
• Verifying that statistics and claims attributed to each source are accurately represented in the text
• Flagging any citation that cannot be verified, is misattributed, or requires rewording
• Producing a complete, formatted bibliography in Chicago author-date style
• Maintaining a running log of verified vs. unverified citations with notes
• *Sources you will be working with include:**
• Peer-reviewed academic journals (PubMed, DOI verification, Google Scholar)
• U.S. government reports (CDC, FHWA, Surgeon General, Pew Research)
• Books (verifying publication details via WorldCat or publisher records)
• News and magazine articles (Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, etc.)
• Organizational reports and surveys (Cigna, Gallup, World Happiness Report)
• Video and media content (YouTube, CNN, documentary films)
• *What I am looking for:**
• Experience with academic fact-checking or citation verification
• Familiarity with Chicago citation style (author-date format)
• Ability to access PubMed, Google Scholar, and DOI resolver (doi.org)
• Strong attention to detail — a missed error in a published book is permanent
• Clear communication and organized record-keeping
• Ability to flag uncertainty honestly rather than guess
• *Nice to have:**
• Background in social science, public health, psychology, or journalism
• Experience working with nonfiction authors or publishers
• Familiarity with Zotero or similar reference management software
• *Project scope:**
This is a chapter-by-chapter project. I would like to start with one chapter as a paid test to confirm fit before proceeding with the full manuscript. Approximately 11 chapters remain. Timeline is flexible but the project needs to be completed before publisher submission.
• *To apply, please:**
• Describe your experience with academic fact-checking or citation verification
• Confirm your familiarity with Chicago style and PubMed/DOI verification