31/01/2023, 15:19 What is a Good Source?

- Research Process - Research Guides at Dickinson College

REQUEST INFO VISIT APPLY ALUMNI GIVE

WAIDNER-SPAHR LIBRARY Ask a Librarian ǀ My Library Account

HOME DO RESEARCH SERVICES ABOUT THE LIBRARY ARCHIVES DICKINSON SCHOLAR

Waidner-Spahr Library /  Research Guides /  Research Process /  What is a Good Source?

Research Process: What is a Good Search this Guide Search

Source?
Use this guide to as a basic guide to research. Information is included on how to use keywords and phrases, evaluate a source. This guide
can also help you identify primary and secondary sources and expand or narrow your searches.

Home What is a Good Source? Primary Sources Secondary Sources Keywords Subject Headings

Search Strategies Journals

https://libguides.dickinson.edu/researchprocess/evaluating 1/3
31/01/2023, 15:19 What is a Good Source? - Research Process - Research Guides at Dickinson College
Habits of a Good Researcher REQUEST INFOEvaluating SourcesALUMNI
VISIT APPLY
It is important to consult a variety of sources, including
print and digital when engaging in the research process.
On-line resources are quick and convenient in that they
can be accessed outside the library, but they do not
represent the complete range of information available in
any discipline. Many of the rich resources owned by the
library, both primary and secondary, are available in print.
A librarian can help you locate appropriate resources for
your topic.
Good researchers don't ignore a possible source of
information just because it is harder to access. Some
sources you discover may not be available in Dickinson's
collection. When beginning the research process, be sure
to build in enough time to order materials through
Interlibrary Loan/Illiad.
A good researcher is defined by the willingness and ability
to follow leads and being able to quickly evaluate a source
for its reliability and usefulness. Clues to important and
reliable information come from many places. Secondary
sources are often good places to start the research
project, as their footnotes and bibliographies can provide
you with leads to primary sources and other important
secondary works.
https://libguides.dickinson.edu/researchprocess/evaluating
GIVE
How do you evaulate a possible source of information?
There are many factors to consider when evaluating sources as
you research.  Most importantly, you should consider what the
information can add to your research and pool of knowledge, is
the information too specific or too general for your purpose? 
Then you should think about if you can trust the information, for
example:
Who is the author?
Is the source biased?  Is it published or written by an
individual, group, or organization with bias?
What is the author's purpose - to inform, entertain, or
persuade?
How current is the information?  Is currency important
to you?
If facts or assumptions are made, how can you trust
these to be true?  Is the author citing sources?  Was the
information evaluated by someone else before being
published? 
Is the organization that is publishing the information
trustworthy?  For example the New York Times is more
trustworthy than news appearing on an unknown
person's blog or twitter feed.
If you are unsure, consult with a librarian or meet with your
professor.
2/3
31/01/2023, 15:19 What is a Good Source? - Research Process - Research Guides at Dickinson College

Distinguishing Among Source Types REQUEST INFO VISIT APPLY ALUMNI GIVE

Distinguishing Among Source Types by Dickinson College is licensed under

a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

International License.

Last Updated: Aug 1, 2022 1:33 PM URL: https://libguides.dickinson.edu/researchprocess  Print Page Login to LibApps

Subjects: Help and How-To

https://libguides.dickinson.edu/researchprocess/evaluating 3/3