Library & Learning Commons: APA Style Guide: Research

PEER REVIEWED

A Peer Reviewed article is ...
where experts ensure the accuracy, originality, significance, and other characteristics of the research before it is accepted for publication. These articles are highly regarded because the findings and results have been reviewed by experts in the field. Therefore, peer reviewed articles are viewed as credible and authoritative.
CLICK on the JOURNAL ARTICLES tab under TYPES OF RESOURCES

Articles - Scholarly (Peer-reviewed) and Popular

How to Identify a Scholarly Article
Scholarly vs. Popular Sources
Most sources are scholarly or popular.
Scholarly sources are written by highly-qualified researchers and have a thorough publication process, which involves peer-reviewing and an extensive list of references.
Popular sources are written by and intended for a general audience; they are not peer-reviewed, and they do not usually include a reference list. Examples include books and magazines to websites and blogs.

SECONDARY vs PRIMARY SOURCES

Secondary sources
In scholarly work, a primary source reports original content; a secondary source refers to content first reported in another source.
Work discussed in a secondary source
Provide the source in which the original work was referenced

RESEARCH

Primo Page 1+ - Library's Databases
Start your research by entering keywords in the search box
Search the Library
The searching stage of your assignment can often take a long time, but putting in the time at this stage will reward you with relevant results that will make writing your assignment much easier.
CLICK on the FOURTH TAB of the How to Research page.
Search the Web
Research can be done using multiple tools such as library databases not just Google.
CLICK on the FIFTH TAB of the How to Research page.
... But I'm used to the Web!
DYK - the end of the URLs tell you something:
.edu = educational institution - good
.gov.ca = government of CAnada - good
.org = an organization - generally good but maybe not
.com = a business that may be trying to sell you something - may not be good
Fake News
Fake news can take the form of fabricated stories, manipulated images or videos, and misleading headlines, aiming to exploit cognitive biases, escalate confusion, or influence public opinion.
CLICK on the SEVENTH TAB of the How to Research page.

How to Spot Fake News*
Documents with or without some truth but inaccurate by design or accident. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

Evaluate Resources
Keep in mind that not all the information you find online is credible, reliable, or even appropriate for your topic, so it is important to take a closer look at what you are reading.
CLICK on the SIXTH TAB of the How to Research page.

EVALUATING RESOURCES

WHO created the resource?
Is the writer Indigenous, Canadian, North American, etc.?
What is the creator's worldview: lived experience, culture, point of view, or philosophy

WHEN was the resource created?
Is it an older resource and therefore may have harmful ideas or language?
Does the historical context or intended purpose support or negate your thesis?
Are you writing an assignment that is historical or current in nature?

WHY was the resource created?
Does an individual benefit from the research - financially, or politically?
Does an Indigenous community, institution, political group or the general public benefit from the research.
Is the author trying to sell something or share a point of view?

HOW was the resource created?
Did the author consult or collaborate with an Indigenous community, institution, or political group?

Source: Harris Learning Library

CRAAP Test

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CRAAP Evaluation Checklist
Evaluation checklists can be handy tools for evaluating sources

LIT REVIEW

A Literature Review is ...
a comprehensive scan of previously published research on a specific topic. Authors use the literature review to provide readers with a current understanding of the topic, and identify existing research gaps.
CLICK on the SECOND TAB (Evaluating Articles) of Evaluating Your Evidence)
So You Need to Write a Literature Review
In this post, the APA summarizes 15 takeaways a webinar.
If you are writing another type of research paper or completing a research assignment, you may also find this guidance helpful
Writing a Literature Review
A literature review is a document or section of a document that collects key sources on a topic and discusses those sources in conversation with each other (also called synthesis). The lit review is an important genre in many disciplines, not just literature (i.e., the study of works of literature such as novels and plays). When we say “literature review” or refer to “the literature,” we are talking about the research (scholarship) in a given field. You will often see the terms “the research,” “the scholarship,” and “the literature” used mostly interchangeably..
Literature review sample
A direct quotation reproduces words verbatim from another work or from your own previously published work.

VIDEO TUTORIALS

How to research
How to utilize library resources.
How to effectively search the web.
How to evaluate your resources for quality.
How to fact check information and spot fake news.
Choose a topic
How to choose a topic that is not too broad nor too narrow.
Consider how much time you have.
CLICK on the SECOND TAB of the How to Research page.
Resources - SO many!
Some types of resources are academic, while others are popular and informal.
CLICK on the THIRD TAB of the How to Research page.