Now that you know how to find sources related to your research question, you must carefully evaluate them to make sure they contain reliable and appropriate information. Use the criteria in the documents on this page to help you decide.
Ask your instructor or a librarian if you have difficulty evaluating a source.
Both popular and scholarly articles can be appropriate sources for your research, and for some research projects, a combination of the two types of sources may be appropriate.
Are you looking for news, background information, or evidence of popular opinion or trends? Popular magazines or newspapers may be best.
Are you looking for research conducted by experts in the field? Use scholarly journals.