Library Module for MGMT Students

You have found some articles that support your research topic, but how do you know the sources are credible? Look at the database record and ask yourself these questions:

• If the authors's credentials are available, do they specify that the author is from a university or other research organization?
• Is the article current enough to be useful?
  
• Does the article provide in-depth information on your topic?
  
• If there is an abstract, does it provide enough information to determine whether the actual article appears relevant? 
  
• Is the article peer-reviewed?

Although many useful resources exist on the Web, there is no "gatekeeper" to ensure that the information you find is reliable and authoritative. When doing research on the Internet, ask yourself these questions:

• Who is responsible for the Website?
• How does the information compare with articles or books that you have read on the subject?
• Is the Website well-maintained and current?
• Is the site objective or is it promoting a particular point of view or agenda?

Click here to learn how to distinguish among scholarly (peer-reviewed), professional/trade, and popular/consumer publications.