Research involves a multi-step process which starts with a research topic. Research is also iterative. This means that you may need to repeat certain steps in the research process depending on the topic you have chosen, or the amount and types of sources available on your topic. For example, you may decide to revise your research topic if you discover that there are no relevant sources available after doing some background research.
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You'll find that there many types of sources available on your research topic, such as eBooks, articles, websites, and videos. However, not all sources are created equal. Some sources are acceptable to use for coursework, while some may be better for entertainment or personal research.
When we talk about types of sources, one way we can group them is into scholarly or popular. Depending on your assignment, you may be asked to use one or both types of sources.
Information comes in many different formats. Some types of resources are academic, while others are popular. Understanding the various types of sources will make it easier to plan your research. Click below to learn more about the various types of information sources.
Why use books/ebooks? Books provide overviews, background, history and introductions as well as in-depth examinations of topics. They are useful when you are looking for in-depth information on a topic, or background overview of a subject area.
Take note that it takes time to write and publish a book. First, the author researches the topic, then they write a draft. The unpublished manuscript is then sent to a publisher to be edited, rewritten, and finally published. This can be a long process which explains why a book that is released this year, would likely not contain the most up-to-date information.
Why use journal articles? Journal articles are highly credible sources which are written by and for professors, researchers, or scholars (e.g., historians). Journal articles are also used by post-secondary students to gain a better understanding and learn about latest research findings on a topic. Journal articles usually report on results of original research and discuss very specific topics. You can access many journal articles for free through Library Search or the library's databases.
Journal articles are often referred to as scholarly, research, or peer-reviewed sources. Peer-review refers to a form of quality control where subject experts first review and approve the article before it gets published. This process increases the credibility and quality of information presented in a journal article. However, it's important to remember that not all journal articles are peer-reviewed. Journals also contain content that is not peer-reviewed such as book reviews and editorials.
Additional Resource
Why use trade magazine articles? Trade articles are good if you're looking for more practical information related to a profession or trade. Trade magazines publish articles aimed at people working in a particular field. The content focuses on information about working in the profession, trends, and news related to that field or trade, rather than academic research. They are often published by professional associations and written by authors who work in or have expertise on the trade/profession. As a result, authors will use language and terms that are familiar to those already within the trade.
What are some examples?
Why use magazine articles? Popular magazines can provide you background and current information on general interest topics. Popular magazine articles cover different points of view on current issues (e.g., politics, economy), pop culture (e.g., celebrities), and general-interest topics (e.g., sports, lifestyle). They can be written to entertain, inform, advertise, or present a viewpoint. The articles are usually written by a staff writer or journalist who may or may not have subject expertise. They tend to have simple, informal language since they are written for a general audience. Articles are not long and often have images / advertisements. They also don't have citations, but could mention names of sources and individuals interviewed.
What are some examples?
Why use newspaper articles? Newspaper articles provide you with an account of current events locally, nationally, or internationally. Articles are usually authored by journalists who may or may not have subject expertise. Articles are mainly written for the general public and generally not long. You'll likely not find citations or a reference list, but the article may mention the name of their sources or individuals interviewed.
What are examples of newspapers?
Grey literature refers to materials published non-commercially. These materials can be made available by the government, academia, non-for-profit, business and trade organizations, in print and digital formats. Examples of grey literature include:
Why use grey literature? It is sometimes more current than published research, and it is a great way to supplement your research, providing your project with a full picture viewpoint. You can find grey literature online, by searching Google (or another search engine), and/or Google Scholar.
Why use websites? Websites provide information on a wide range of topics. There are many websites you'll encounter when searching your research topic. Since websites have different purposes, it's important to evaluate them to ensure that they are credible sources. One tool which you can use to evaluate websites is the CRAAP test. Here are some examples of websites you might find:
| Website Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Personal |
|
| Business |
|
| Non-profit groups |
|
| Government |
|
Why use social media? Social media posts can be a great source of background and timely information on a topic. For example, you may find social media posts which include information or links to the latest news and research findings on your topic. Since anyone can share information through social media, it's important to evaluate information to make sure that it's credible. In order to tap into the most relevant information, identify relevant #hashtags, @profiles, conversation threads, and blogs on your topic of interest.
(Adapted from Research: Know your Resources from The Learning Portal)
As a Seneca student, you can access library resources for free using your Seneca login. The main search box on the library website, or Library Search , is a great starting place to find sources on your topic. Library Search allows you to search for relevant online sources on your topic, such as articles, eBooks, and videos.
Watch an introduction on how to find sources using Library Search:
Conducting background research is an important step in the earlier stages of your research. Background research allows you to:
Gain a better understanding of the topic. Sometimes you may not be very familiar with the topic you've been assigned or have selected. Background research can help you learn about different areas, perspectives, and issues of the topic.
Narrow down your topic. Getting a better understanding of different issues and perspectives of your draft topic will help in developing the final research topic or question you will use in your assignment.
Determine the amount and types of information on the topic. You may have an assignment which has source requirements (e.g., find journal articles published in the past five years). By doing some background searching, you can determine if there are enough resources on your topic that match the assignment requirements. If you find that there are not enough sources, you could modify your topic early on in the research process.
Identify search words / keywords. As you browse through the sources from your background research, you'll learn some terms and words authors use to describe your topic. Make a list of these words since you can use them when searching for sources.
In addition to searching the library website, you can also search these library databases to find articles from magazines and newspapers.
In addition to searching the library website, you can also search these library databases to find videos on your topic.
Note: Users must create a separate Kanopy account using their Seneca email to use this database.
Note: Seneca students, faculty, and staff must first register to use this service by creating a separate LinkedIn Learning account through the "Login to LinkedIn Learning" link on the college's LinkedIn Learning page.
It's fairly safe to trust information you find through the library. The types of resources found through Seneca Libraries have been reviewed several times for quality and accuracy of information. However, you may still need to evaluate the library resource to make sure that it's relevant to your topic and matches the assignment requirements.
If you're using websites and other Internet sources in your assignment, it's important to evaluate these online sources for quality and credibility. How do you know what is trustworthy? One way to check for accuracy and reliability of information is to apply the CRAAP test.
Learn more on how to research topics for your assignments
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