Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research: Step-by-Step
✅ Check Your Sources
Not all information is created equal. On this page, you’ll learn how to evaluate whether your sources are credible, current, and useful for college-level work.
🔍 Who / When / Why Checklist
- Who → Who wrote it? Are they an expert, journalist, or random blogger?
- When → When was it published? Is the information up-to-date for your topic?
- Why → Why was it written? To inform, to persuade, to sell, or to entertain?
👉 Use this quick test to decide if a source belongs in your paper.
📊 Compare 3 Source Types
| Source Type | Who wrote it? | When published? | Why written? | Best use in research |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blog post | Anyone, no credentials | Often undated, not updated | Personal opinion, informal | Background or perspective only |
| News article | Journalists, editors | Very current, same-day possible | To inform, sometimes with bias | Timely examples and context |
| Scholarly article | Experts or researchers with advanced degrees | Published in peer-reviewed journals | To share research findings | Core evidence and analysis |
👉 Strong papers often combine all three: scholarly articles for evidence, news for timely context, and even a blog for perspective. Just be clear about the role each plays in your research.
🤿 Dive Deeper into Evaluation
🔗 Source Evaluation Techniques
Want more practice deciding if a source is trustworthy? The Source Evaluation Techniques guide walks you through strategies for judging credibility, bias, and accuracy so you can feel confident in your research choices.
🔗 Evaluating Information Mini Course
Need a deeper dive? The Evaluating Information Mini Course is a step-by-step resource that shows you how to spot reliable information, avoid weak sources, and strengthen your papers with evidence that counts.
- Last Updated: Sep 15, 2025 9:10 PM
- URL: https://library.nwacc.edu/researchai
- Print Page