Research Skills and Source Evaluation

Finding and Evaluating Sources

Good academic writing relies on credible, relevant sources. Learning to find and evaluate sources is a critical skill.

Where to Find Academic Sources

• Google Scholar: Free academic search engine


• Library databases: JSTOR, EBSCO, ProQuest, PubMed


• University library: Access to journals, books, and interlibrary loans


• Reference lists: Follow citations from relevant papers you've already found

Evaluating Source Credibility (CRAAP Test)

1. Currency: Is the information recent enough for your topic?


2. Relevance: Does it directly relate to your research question?


3. Authority: Who wrote it? What are their credentials?


4. Accuracy: Is the information supported by evidence?


5. Purpose: Why was it written? Is there bias?

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Primary sources are original materials (research studies, historical documents, interviews). Secondary sources analyze or interpret primary sources (review articles, textbooks, commentary). Strong academic papers use both.