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Information Evaluation: Understanding Source Types

About

Whether you find your material online or physically in the Library, it's always important to evaluate your sources closely to make sure that all the information that you use is credible, accurate, and useful for your assignment.  Remember that anyone can publish websites or even self-publish books, so it's important to look at the information you find with a critical eye. 

This guide will help you understand the types of information sources you may come across and give you strategies to use to evaluate those sources.

The Information Cycle

Why can't you find a scholarly article on a current event?  It's because of the information cycle.  Check out the video below to learn about the information cycle and how it affects the sources and topics you find.

Popular Vs. Scholarly Sources

For your assignment, you may be asked to find a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal article. Why can't you just use a newspaper or magazine article? What's the difference? Watch this video to learn more.
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