Once you have started gathering resources, it's time to begin selecting appropriate sources for use in your research project. In order to select resources for appropriate use in class research, you need evaluation criteria; i.e., what qualities does a source need to be fit for use in your research project. Selection criteria often include consideration of at least three factors:
Authority deals with the credibility of the author, mainly judgments about 1) whether or not the author has the expertise to know what they are talking about and 2) whether or not the author intends to be truthful. Often authority is recognized through indicators such as the author's educational degrees or where they work. However, authority can also derive from the author's personal experience, as well, including first-hand experience at a historical event or living as an individual from a marginalized demographic within a larger dominate culture.
Timeliness is an important factor in evaluating information, and your decision regarding whether to use a resource will depend on the subject you are investigating. In many cases, you will be interested in the most current research you can find, especially in STEM classes. On the other hand, in some circumstances, being closer timewise to an event is more valuable. You will need to decide what will give you more credible information about your topic. If you have any questions about whether a resource is appropriate for use in your research, consult your assignment instructions and/or ask your instructor.
Publications of various types undergo different editorial processes resulting in differing levels of academic rigor. Click on the publication types below to learn more about their editorial process and their appropriate use in research projects.
Peer reviewed journals publish original research by experts in a particular field of study. Peer review is part of the publishing process for academic or scholarly journals. Specifically, when an author submits an article draft to be published in a peer reviewed journal, before deciding whether or not to publish it, the publisher distributes the article to several subject experts who evaluate it for a number of concerns including but not limited to accuracy, objectivity, and appropriate data collection methods. As a result, readers know that articles published in peer reviewed journals have been evaluated and meet minimum levels of quality for use in academic contexts like your research project.
Use the following tutorial to understand more about the Peer Review process. The tutorial has five segments and will open in its own viewer.
Research Essentials: Understanding Peer Review tutorial from Niche Academy.
University press books publish research by faculty and outside contributors. The books and other documents published by university presses are subject to a rigorous evaluation process that includes peer review and/or editorial board approval. University press content reliably meets the minimum standards for use in class research projects.
Reference resources provide relatively short summaries of what is known about a topic. They are excellent sources for gathering background information to help you quickly become familiar with the basic facts about a topic. Reference sources derive their content from the established scholarship in a discipline; and as a result, in some cases, may not reflect the most cutting edge discoveries recently published in peer reviewed journals. Reference sources go through a rigorous editorial process and are appropriate for use in class research for basic facts.
Trade journals publish industry specific content, including articles about market trends, products, and other industry relevant news. They are written by staff writers and journalists for an audience of professionals in a particular industry and are subject to editorial oversight. However, they are not subject to the editorial rigor of peer review. As always, consult your assignment guidelines or ask your instructor about whether trade journals are appropriate for use in your research project.
Government documents are resources created by government entities, including state and local governments, federal agencies, congress, the president, and the judiciary. As a result, government documents are often related to subjects in which the public has an interest, including but not limited to public safety, the environment, public health, and budgets. Examples of government documents include short pamphlets, lengthy research reports, transcripts of hearings, maps, and statistics. Government documents are frequently major sources of information on topics which do not have immediate monetary value but have significant social value. When using government documents in your research, consider whether the resource is derived from reliable research methods and the timeliness of the information.
Popular books, magazines, newspapers, video, and audio content primarily provide interpretations of events and primary research. While many popular content producers ostensibly report from an informed, objective perspective, they lack the editorial rigor of peer review during the publication process to ensure minimum levels of quality for use in class research. When considering using popular sources in your research, it's wise to check with your instructor first. Many instructors do not permit popular sources in student research except in specific circumstances.
Self-published or user-generated materials include those that have no intermediaries or gatekeepers between the author and their audience, including most websites, blogs, forums like Reddit, Youtube videos, Tik Toks, and Wikipedia. One must be very cautious in using this type of material in your research, many instructors do not permit user-generated materials in student research projects. Whether user-generated content is appropriate for use in your class research depends largely on context, including the character of the author and how the source will be used in your research project. For more information about evaluating web resources, check out our "evaluating websites" page. If you have any question about whether or not you should use a source, ask your instructor.
