Information Literacy: Be Savvy about your Sources: Research Help

Hint: Many people start with a topic that is too BIG, and need to narrow down their topic.

DEFINE your topic in a sentence.

Best practices:
Consider multiple keywords, synonyms, or points of view.
Narrow your topic down to meet assignment’s stated goals.

Hint: Use Library Databases to get Peer Reviewed articles.

FIND a variety of resources.

Best practice:  Find multiple sources of peer-reviewed research.

CHOOSE the most relevant, trustworthy, and current resources.

R is for RATIONALE, the reason it exists.  This will also let you know what the content BIAS is.
A is for AUTHORITY, is the author an EXPERT? Who says?
D is for DATE, is it CURRENT information? Some theories change in days.
A is for ACCURACY of information. Is the information you are receiving COMPLETE and IN CONTEXT, or cherry-picked and deceiving?
R is for RELEVANT, this could also be the first thing.  If it isn't useful for your goal, don't waste your time by reading.

If information doesn't pass a RADAR test, it is probably not worth your time.

More mnemonics

Caution: If you decide to use content that is unreliable, biased, or from an anonymous source, be careful to explain why you are still using such untrustworthy information.  

Hint: Keep track of where you get your information - FROM THE BEGINNING The citation allows other people to re-search for the same information.

USE your sources of information ethically and accurately.