Analyzing Resources
An essential part of the research process is evaluating sources.
This is not easy and it takes practice; in fact, the more you know about
a topic, the easier it is to evaluate it!
As you use each source, keep in mind the following questions:
- Who is the author? Is s/he reputable? Is s/he an authority in the field?
- Is the information accurate and verifiable?
- Is it current?
You should also be aware that:
- Authors of books need to go through a strict publishing process, whereas authors of
websites don't.
- Refereed journals have a stricter publishing process than magazines.
- It is more difficult to cover recent events in print than in some non-print formats.
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