Leia E. answered • 09/19/22
You Thought English Tutoring Was Boring?
So, Jake, this can be a bit tricky. Here are a few rules I follow. Make certain that the reference you're using is considered reputable- for example, Wikipedia wouldn't be because anyone on the internet can go in and add or change the information in an article. However, there is a way to use Wikipedia as a reference tool-- scroll down to the bottom of the article and see what References are listed. Most Wiki articles have hyperlinks in their Reference section so you can easily and quickly access the articles they've used to form the Wiki article.
Try not to use ant material whether print or online that is more than 10 years old. In the internet age, no matter what the discipline, new discoveries are being made on almost a daily basis. Being sure to use source material that is more current will help you avoid information or beliefs which have turned out not to be helpful or even true, for that matter.
Finally, whether you search the stacks in person or online, look for articles which have been PEER REVIEWED. This simply means that a group of knowledgeable individuals in the field have read the material, believe the methodology is sound, and accept the author's outcome as valid.
I hope this helps and good luck! -- Leia E. Wyzant
