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A little about yourself:
albertans, if you don't like it here, leave. actually, that goes for everyone.
Favourite Academic Subject:
philosophy and economics.
Favourite Music:
that wagner shit. underground hip hop and indy rock though, really.
Favourite Movies:
steven segal
Choosing What You Need
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| Pages in Know What You Need | |||
| Know What You Need | Primary vs. Secondary | Choosing What You Need | Evaluation |
Part of knowing what you need is understanding the advantages and disadvantages of different formats. Before you begin searching, decide what formats are best for your topic.
Checked by EditorsThe information found in books has been checked by editors, making the information more accurate and reliable. The books found in the University of Manitoba Libraries are selected for your use by librarians. As a result, library books are good choices for reliable information.
Can Be Out of DateBecause it takes years to write and publish books, they are not always the best source of current topics. Some books are less scholarly than others. It is important to assess the validity, currency (date), and accuracy of the information in the book, as well as the intent of the author.
Peer-Reviewed, Current, Reliable
The articles found in scholarly journals go through a "peer-review" process. In other words, the articles are checked by professors and other experts. The information is reliable and based on extensive research. Scholarly journals take less time to publish than books, and are a good source of current research. Scholarly articles contain citations to the research used in their construction, so you can verify the validity of the author's ideas.
Very Specific, Short, Not a Good Source for an Overview
Scholarly journals include information of academic interest, so they are not the best sources for general interest topics. They do not include up-to-the minute news or current event information.
Good Resources for Current Events, Cultural Opinions, and Up-To-the-Minute News
Popular magazine articles focus on issues of current interest including news and trends. Magazines articles must be approved by an editor and therefore are considered more reliable than web sites.
Not Scholarly, No Bibliography, Can Be Biased
Popular magazines do not undergo a peer-review process and are not based on extensive research. The articles are written by journalists, rather than researchers and professors. Generally, they do not include a list of references at the end, so you cannot trace the origins of the writer's ideas. Also, magazines are often written for a specific audience and may contain bias.
Current Information, Easily Accessible
Web sites provide up-to-the minute news and information about current events, trends, and controversial topics.
Not Usually Checked for Accuracy by Outside Parties, Often Difficult to Determine Authorship, Date or Publication, and Validity
Because anyone can publish anything on the web, web site information is frequently inaccurate or biased, and sometimes outdated. Scholarly information is generally not available on the open web.
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Primary vs. Secondary Sources |  |
Evaluation |  |
Footnotes
| Page Content By: University of Manitoba Libraries (Last Revised Dec 19, 2006) |
Contact: Information Literacy |
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© 2005 UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
