University of Michigan - Flint

A common mistake people make when using the library is that they assume that everything the library owns is equally worth using. Although the librarians try to develop a balanced collection of high quality, the books, periodicals, and other materials are not necessarily of equal value. It is important that you look critically at sources you find.

What are some factors that might make a source of information of less value to you?

1. Date. If you are looking for recent facts about something, make sure that the source you are using is as up to date as the information you seek. For example, if you wanted to know the current population of China, it would be unwise to look in a 1983 almanac. Old sources are not necessarily without value; for research of a historical nature, they may be very useful. You should simply pay attention to the date.
2. Originality of the source. Certain types of research call for the use of primary sources of information. These are works that provide original information about a topic. Original experiments, historical letters and manuscripts, autobiographies, newspaper accounts contemporaneous to an event, and official records are examples of primary sources. Secondary sources are works that are based on primary sources. For example, the presidential papers of Andrew Jackson are a primary source. A twentieth century book about his presidency is a secondary source. Consult your instructor if you are in doubt as to whether you should use primary or secondary sources.
3. Biases in the source. Is this a reliable source of information? What is the agenda of the author? Authors' viewpoints will inevitably color their presentation and interpretation of facts. You should be aware of the biases of the author, and not uncritically accept everything he or she says. On the other hand, resist the temptation to dismiss an author's ideas or statements of fact simply because they represent a viewpoint that you disagree with.
4. Format. Some people think that anything they find on the Internet is good and valid, and there is a lot of useful information online. For a number of reasons, there is also a lot of material on the Web that can only be called junk. Poor quality or even fraudulent material can be pulled up in the same search that retrieves useful information. It's important to evaluate the information you find on the Internet to determine whether it's valid. And remember: you have to cite information you find via computer.
5. Level of scholarship. Many of the holdings in the Thompson Library are of a scholarly nature, but many are popular sources. The difference between them is very important, and the quality of your research is apt to suffer if you do not distinguish between them. Popular magazines are not necessarily of poor quality; they simply are not very useful for most higher-level academic research. The chart below might help.

   	POPULAR	SCHOLARLY
   Content	Personal narrative; news; opinion	Report or research; conclusions based on data
   Author	Non-expert, often a professional writer	Expert with credentials in the discipline
   Audience	Public or non-specialists	Scholars in the discipline
   Language	Everyday language	Terminology of the field; jargon
   Features	Eye-catching illustrations, photos	Analysis and explanation of method
   Authority	Few or no references	Footnotes and/or bibliography to sources
   Periodical types [more info]	Magazine	Journal
   Examples (periodicals)	Time, Newsweek, The New Republic	Journal of Applied Psychology, Public Opinion Quarterly, New Literary History
   Examples (books)	Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: A Practical Guide for Improving Communication and Getting What You Want in Your Relationships	Sex and Psyche: Gender and Self Viewed Cross-Culturally