Introduction to Library Research

The timeliness of the information:

• When was your source published or updated?
• Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
• Are the links functional?

Ex: Study Shows Students Are Addicted to Social Media was published in 2010, which isn't within the ten years of publication that we are looking for.

The importance of the information for your needs:

• Does the information relate to your topic and/or answer your question?
• Who is the intended audience?--General Public vs Academic Scholars vs Trade Publications
• Have you looked at multiple sources before deciding this is one for your topic?

Ex: Study Shows Students Are Addicted to Social Media is directed towards a General Community and does not include social media that exist now (because they did not exist then). That can create a chuck of missing information needed for an argument.

The source of the information:

• Who is the author and publisher?
  • Is there contact info?
• What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
  • Do they have advanced degrees?
  • Do they have professional experience? 
• Is the URL a .com .edu .gov .org .net 

Ex:  Study Shows Students Are Addicted to Social Media provides one name for publishing:  ­"niversity of Maryland, College Park" which is supposed to say "University" but provides no other information for author.

The reliability, honesty, and factuality of the content:

• Is the information supported by evidence?
  • Can you verify any of the information from another source or from personal knowledge?
• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?*
• Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?**
• Are there spelling, grammar, or typographical errors? 

*See the Life Cycle of Scholarly Articles

**See the page about Biases

Ex: Study Shows Students Are Addicted to Social Media uses studies with evidence. However, they are trying to prove that Social Media negatively impacts students and their evidence doesn't show the benefits. Its a bias to watch out for.

The reasons the information exists:

• Is the purpose of the information to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade?
• Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases? 

Ex: Study Shows Students Are Addicted to Social Media is attempting to teach, however, since there is not as much social media to analyze during the study, there could be missing information as well as more personal opinions. We do not see the study questions or any charts. 

Conclusion: This is not a good source for our Thesis.