Miss, may I ask help in
finding the right source?
This is a request I
frequently get from some students, especially during research season. Before reminding
them to use the OPVL assisting them on the use of the BA Library OPAC and
research databases, I verify the following activities prior to locating sources
of information in the library and online.
Did you understand and analyse the task or project?
Did you identify information you need to
complete the task?
What important terms or words have you pulled
out from the identified information? You can use them as key words for searching
the BA Library OPAC, online databases and search engines like Goggle.
Are you familiar with primary and secondary
sources?
If the answer to these
questions are all in the affirmative, which rarely happens, we proceed to the
OPAC and databases. Once a student finds a book, an article or an academic paper
he proceeds with evaluation of the source, text and material. And then,
citation becomes a concern. That would require another session. Another
inquiry. Or, the student depends on a citation machine online.
Recently, I got bored
with my pre-research interview and verification process. Searching EBSCOHost
for ideas, I found a good material to further support me in library reference
work and readers’ services. The Right
Source is a short, easy to read article that may help me assist
students in their research and inquiry. I recommend you read it too and
download the file. Share it with another co-teacher and to your class as well.
Is this the
right source for me?
Not
sure if this source is something you can cite in your research? Find your class
assignment or research prompt and check the guidelines your teacher has
outlined. Then, ask yourself the following questions about your source to see
if it’s what you need:
- Primary or
secondary? A primary source is an account from a specific time period.
If you’re writing a paper about the medieval political system, the
surviving pages of Magna Carta would be a primary
source. A book written by a medieval studies scholar that describes
the importance of Magna Carta would be a secondary
source—this type of source provides analysis and context.
- Popular or
academic? Popular sources are "popular" because they are
meant for the general public. Newspapers and magazines are popular sources
because they are easy to understand and widely available. Academic sources
are more thoroughly reviewed than popular sources. They often undergo
a peer review process, have multiple sections, and are
generally much longer and more detailed.
- Neutral or
biased? Examine the word choices made in your source to determine if
it is objective or trying to get across a certain point of view. If it
seems to be interpreting facts with a specific agenda or goal in mind, the
source may have gone past a specific viewpoint to outright bias.
- Where did
this source get its information? Look for a bibliography at
the bottom of the work and see what sources were used. If they look
credible and trustworthy, not only is your source likely a good one, but
you now have a list of other reputable sources you can search for.
The
"right" source for you depends on the guidelines your teacher has set
for the assignment. If your teacher has asked you to see how an event was
covered in newspapers, then neutral, academic sources won’t be the right fit.
All sources—whether they are primary or secondary, neutral or biased—can be
useful; it all depends on the type of source you need. If you’re not sure what
kind of a source you should be looking for, simply ask your teacher.
Retrieved
August 26, 2019
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