Unit 5: Conducting Independent Research
37 Finding & Evaluating Sources
Finding and evaluating sources
Consider the different types of sources and the pros and cons of using each source type:
| Source | Pro | Con |
| Electronic databases | easy to use; powerful | the number of results can be overwhelming if you have not narrowed my search |
| Books | online books are easily searchable; edited works may contain a single chapter I can focus on instead of reading the whole book | physical books are heavy; not all books are available as a PDF |
| Newspapers | short articles; easy to read | might not be academic or current |
| Google Scholar | relatively easy to search | you might have to pay for an article (but you never have to pay when you use Google Scholar in the UW databases) |
| General internet search (i.e. Google) | easy to search; no cost | too many results |
| Generative AI search | easy to use; locates sources | may hallucinate sources; may not find reliable sources |
Source Criteria
Not every source you find will be reliable, appropriate, or useful for an academic research paper. Before you spend time reading or downloading an article, use the questions below to decide whether the source is worth using.
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- Is the source directly related to my topic? If it doesn’t clearly connect to your research question, it may not be worth reading.
- Can I understand the source? If it is too technical (or too long), you might choose a different source.
- What types of information are available in the source? Expert opinions? Fact and/or statistics? Results from research studies? Example evidence? Historical or current examples?
- How current is the source? If it is more than 5 years old, it might be too old (unless you are comparing and contrasting information from the past with the present or providing historical background).
- Is the information biased or promoting a specific agenda? All sources have a point of view. The key is recognizing it. If you’re researching animal rights and use a PETA article, remember that PETA takes a strong activist stance. This doesn’t mean you can’t use it—just that you need to understand the perspective behind the information. PETA stands for “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.”
- You can use Wikipedia to get general background information and vocabulary. However: Do not cite Wikipedia in your research paper. Its pages change frequently and are not considered reliable academic sources.
Sources from the UW–Madison Libraries’ databases are usually reliable and academic.
Sources from a general Google search may or may not be appropriate; you must evaluate them carefully using the criteria above.
Use the UW Libraries Website
- Visit the UW Libraries Homepage to access the databases
- Consult the UW Library Research Tutorials
- Use a UW Supported Citation Manager to manage your sources
Watch this video on Evaluating Resources
From Kristina Ulmer
Watch this video on Selecting a Resource
Learn about the value of using library databases to locate credible resources.
From: Steely Library NKU
https://youtu.be/eF_dPO4QX8E
