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Module 5 - Research

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Activity 1 | Activity 2 | Activity 3 | Activity 4 | Activity 5 | Activity 6

Activity 3: Evaluating Your Sources

During your search for print and online sources, you will likely discover more than you can possibly use. You now have to decide what is most important and relevant to your research question.  First, determine the reliability of your sources.  Web sites can easily be created and changed, so information accessed here is sometimes questionable.  Print sources are also subject to inaccurate or misleading information.

  In most instances, in order to determine the value of a source, you’ll probably want to answer these questions:

  • Who published this book or journal? Are these publications scholarly and therefore reviewed by experts? Are they popular and therefore more likely to emphasize entertainment than information?
  • Who wrote this book or article? What are this person’s credentials?
  • When was this source published? Is currency an issue for your topic?
  • Where does the information come from?  Is this reliable?
  • Is the source marked by a particular bias?
  • Who benefits by this source? Are commercial interests apparent?
Copyright 2008, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. administrator. (2007, February 26). Module 5 - Research. Retrieved January 07, 2009, from Western Governors University Web site: http://ocw.wgu.edu/liberal-arts/lcta-research-writing-and-oral-presentation-task/5activity3.html. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Creative Commons License