One vital aspect of working on research papers is undertaking the research. The research’s quality determines how well you defend your stance, which then determines the paper’s quality. The research’s quality also relies on the sources you use. Numerous sources of information exist, but only a few are suited for paper. Let’s discuss how to identify the right sources for your college research to help guarantee a spectacular paper.
The Various Types of Sources
You require diverse, reliable sources to compose an excellent piece. Using a combination of sources will grant your work more credibility and provide more depth. Here’re the main categories of sources.
Primary Sources
Sources that are considered primary are those that come closest to the origin of the data. They include interviews, speeches, biographies, autobiographies, constitutions, and research reports. They normally contain raw information often interpreted by other sources. They are excellent for providing evidence and are more credible than the rest.
Secondary Sources
Sources categorized to be secondary are those created by people who did not participate in the research project first-hand. They often quote and use primary sources. But they don’t normally provide evidence and instead offer analysis of content from primary sources. They include books and research journals.
Such sources are suitable when synthesizing original data sources, especially those that would be too laborious to collect. They also make it possible to gather information from sources that can’t be accessed, like some physical documents.
Tertiary Sources
Sources considered tertiary are those that consolidate other sources to make it easier to locate and identify them. They mainly list, summarize and repackage ideas of other scholars. They include indexes, bibliographies, manuals, databases, handbooks, dictionaries, and directories.
Locating Reliable Sources for College Writing
Locating sources can sometimes be challenging, but it is necessary if you want to compose a superb paper. Platforms like researchpaperwriter.org can be of great help, but if you aim to do it yourself, you should put in extra effort and find sources best suited for the paper. Here’re some vital questions to help gauge the reliability of a source:
- Who is the author, and what are their credentials? Are they experts in your specialty?
- What’s its purpose? Is it meant to entertain, inform or persuade? Is it supposed to help sell something? Does it target a particular audience or the general public?
- What’s the publication date? Is it still valid, or is it outdated? Has it been updated?
- Is it peer-reviewed, or have other experts verified it?
- What’s the author’s intention? What’s their perspective on the subject matter? Are there any conflicts of interest or hidden agendas?
- How does it relate to your subject of investigation? Does it support or contradict your argument? Does it address any limitations in your study?
These questions will help you know the trustworthiness of the collected sources and whether they will be useful for your research work.
Common Places to Look for Reputable Sources for Academic Work
There are various places to obtain sources to use for your academic writing. Still, the most crucial thing is ensuring the sources are relevant, credible, and current on the matter of investigation. If it’s your first time doing research writing, focus on the following three.
Research Databases
Make use of your search engine and find online databases that store works done by scholars. Examples include Google Scholar, PubMed Central, Science.Gov, Research Gate, and JSTOR.
Your College Library
Your institution’s library is a treasure containing unlimited helpful information. Go there and search for journals, encyclopedias, and books. You’ll find most of them in print, but the library’s database can be useful in locating digital copies.
Other Online Platforms
Resources like websites and online encyclopedias also contain helpful information needed to complete your research work. However, be careful with these sources and only look at sites with trusted domains where the URLs end with .gov or .edu. We recommend using them sparingly and only when you can scrutinize them and confirm they are reliable.
Signing Off
Locating sources for research writing in college can be an uphill task, but even harder when you pick the wrong subject matter for investigation. Some topics are difficult to research and could land you in trouble if you don’t include enough sources or if the ones you use have questionable credibility. So, use the above guide to ease the process and get reliable sources. And don’t shy away from seeking further advice from your instructor.