Understanding Print Sources in Research

Print Sources Overview

• Print sources refer specifically to materials that can be physically produced, such as books, magazines, scholarly journals, and newspapers.
• These materials are typically available in physical libraries and serve as traditional resources for academic research.

Importance of Non-Fiction Print Sources

• Non-fiction sources are essential for research papers and provide factual, informational content.
• The audience and depth of information in non-fiction print sources can vary significantly, impacting their utility for research.

Quality Control in Print Sources

• Printed materials usually undergo a critical review process to ensure quality, thus improving reliability.
• However, not all print sources are reliable; evaluating their relevance and reliability is crucial before use in research.

Evaluating Print Sources

• No universal method exists to assess reliability, but memory devices can aid in evaluation.
• The CRAAP test, which stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose, is a useful tool for assessing a source’s credibility.

CRAAP Test Components

• Currency: Evaluation of the timeliness of the information, including publication dates, revision dates, or copyright years.
  • Recent data is crucial for rapidly changing topics, e.g., Covid-19.
• Relevance: Focuses on the importance of the information in relation to your research needs.
  • Consider how well the source supports your argument and whether it covers the topic adequately.

Key Indicators of Currency

• Date of copyright, publication, revision, or edition.
• Dates of sources cited within the material.
• Dates associated with patents or trademarks referenced in the text.

Assessing Relevance

• Determine if the source comprehensively covers the topic or has a narrow focus.
• Identify if the source holds biases that might necessitate the supplementation of additional materials for a complete understanding.