Introduction to Research

Now that we’ve discovered what types of sources we’re likely to encounter, it’s crucial to learn how to evaluate how trustworthy and appropriate a source would be for your research. 

It’s generally best not to think of specific types of sources as fundamentally “good” or “bad,” but rather appropriate or inappropriate for a given step in the research process. For example, while you might learn a lot of useful information via Google search during the Finding Background Information step, it’s usually not appropriate to cite them in your final draft.
 

You can learn a lot about a source and evaluate its credibility before you even read the first sentence or paragraph. In fact, it’s usually a good idea to engage in the process of lateral reading before you read a text. This will save you a lot of time and effort if the source turns out to be less reliable than you’d hoped.
Lateral reading means searching for and analyzing information about a source and where it came from. You can use a Google search, Wikipedia, or other web-based tools to find information about your source. In particular, try to learn about:

The Author

• Is an author or authors named? If not, proceed with caution!
• Is the author qualified to serve as an authority on this topic? Learning about their academic and professional background should indicate their expertise (or lack thereof).
• Does the author have any perceived conflicts of interest or biases? This could include financial interests, political agendas, or relationships with anyone who might benefit from their knowledge like friends or family.

The Organization

• Who is the publisher or web site that hosts this source? What can you learn about their reputation?
• Are they trying to sell you something? If it’s a web source, do you see lots of ads and pop-ups? This could be a major red flag.
• Does the organization have any perceived conflicts of interest?

The Date

• Is a publication date listed with the source, or does it say when it was last updated? Note: the copyright date at the bottom of a web page does not count.
• If the source is more than fifteen years old, proceed with caution or find another more recent source. Our knowledge about the world is changing all the time, and outdated sources may contain inaccurate or non-relevant information.

• Trust Your Instincts: If you ever feel like a source might not be reliable, it’s probably best to find another source. There should be lots of credible sources on any given topic that you can use instead.
• Use Lateral Reading Strategically: You don’t have to exhaustively research every single information source you find. In fact, many of the sources you find in the Sprague Library catalog and databases have already been evaluated by experts. 
• Ask a Librarian: Librarians are trained to help researchers find reliable information. If you’re ever feeling stuck or unsure about a given source, get in touch with a librarian at Sprague Library.