Judging what to use.
WHAT TO ASK
Who wrote it, and what are their credentials? Where was it published? When? What evidence supports the claims? Who funded it, and does that matter? Has it been peer reviewed?
WHAT PEER REVIEW MEANS
Other specialists assessed it before publication.
WHAT IT DOES NOT MEAN
That it is correct.
WHAT TO PREFER
Primary sources, reporting original research Recent work, where the field moves Established publications
WHAT TO TREAT CAUTIOUSLY
Sources with no author or date Publications that charge for publication without genuine review Material summarising others without citing them Anything with an obvious interest in the conclusion
WHAT TO CHECK
Whether other work supports or contradicts it.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT CONTRADICTION
Report it. Disagreement in the literature is itself a finding.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Select only sources agreeing with your conclusion Cite a source you have not read
THAT LAST POINT
Citing from someone else's citation, without reading it, propagates errors.
