A research paper is a written work that presents an original investigation or examination of a specific topic or issue. In order to write a successful research paper, it is important to gather and evaluate relevant sources of information. There are several types of sources that can be used in a research paper, and the specific sources that are most appropriate will depend on the topic and the purpose of the research.
One common type of source used in research papers is primary sources. Primary sources are original documents or records that provide firsthand accounts of an event or topic. Examples of primary sources include letters, diaries, government documents, and photographs. Primary sources are valuable because they provide a direct and unmediated perspective on the subject being studied.
Another type of source commonly used in research papers is secondary sources. Secondary sources are works that interpret or analyze primary sources. Examples of secondary sources include academic articles, books, and encyclopedias. Secondary sources can be useful because they provide an interpretation or analysis of primary sources that can help to contextualize or clarify their meaning.
Tertiary sources, such as dictionaries and encyclopedias, are another type of source that can be useful in a research paper. Tertiary sources provide a broad overview of a topic and are typically based on secondary sources. They can be useful for providing background information or for defining terms and concepts.
In addition to these traditional sources, research papers may also use digital sources, such as websites and online databases. Digital sources can be a convenient and efficient way to access a wide range of information, but it is important to be cautious when using these sources. It is important to evaluate the credibility and reliability of digital sources, as not all information found online is necessarily accurate or trustworthy.
In summary, sources for a research paper can include primary, secondary, tertiary, and digital sources. The specific sources that are most appropriate will depend on the topic and the purpose of the research. It is important to carefully evaluate and select sources to ensure that the information used in the research paper is reliable and relevant.
Learn How To Find Sources For A Research Paper
Some great examples of reliable websites for journal articles include Google Scholar, Oxford Academic, Microsoft Academic, Cornell University Library, and SAGE Publishing. When you are majoring in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Biology, or Chemistry, PubMed is one of the best databases that has both free and paid articles. Another way to credible research sources is to subscribe to magazines Scientific American Magazine, for instance and journals Oxford Academic is just one of the many choices. Look at the date of the article, or about the specific things they are mentioning in the article. Of course, creating this type of document mostly requires paraphrasing words and phrases from various sources, but sometimes you have to include direct citations. Nonetheless, sometimes the instructors ask for it.
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing
Using data and information from problematic sources can easily lead to a low grade. A top site to get information has to be owned and managed by governmental or educational institutions. Maximal number of references per article According to statistics, the average number of references that students include in their papers is growing. What are some credible journal articles? These types of documents can be excellent sources of information due to their regularity, dependability, and thoroughness. It is what the majority of research paper grading rubrics require. Economics has 32 or fewer references. If a researcher needs local information, they can use books, websites, and newspapers.
References and Citing Sources in a Research Paper
There is still a good chance! Collecting sources for a research paper can sometimes be a daunting task. If sometimes, you need only a few articles to make a conclusion and to develop an understanding of the topic, in other cases, you need to use lots of sources of information. If you are writing a research paper, you have to mention sources that you worked with. See how long the article is, and if it contains the necessary information such as an abstract, a reference list, and documented data. But, including more relevant sources can enhance the credibility of a paper. Using the provided knowledge, learners can compose top-quality papers from the Recommendations on Choosing the Best Sources First of all, you need to examine the value of the information provided in a publication.
How to Find Good Sources for a Research Paper
Also, they may not realize when a source is not what it seems. Government Entities These websites tend to be reliable since they are highly regulated. There is no need to spend many sleepless nights trying to reference papers. Also, you can include here textbooks, dictionaries and even entire encyclopedias. Some examples include dictionaries, Wikipedia, manuals, abstracts, and technical leaflets.
Bad Sources for Your Research Project
It is an important moment because citing sources in various formats has its own different rules. What is their ultimate goal and how are they persuading you of that? It is easy to enter it online to see all the popular quotations in APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA, or any other academic writing style. Just remember: OhioLink will NOT call you to tell you your books have arrived. Mixing the formats could make text unclear to the reader. The governmental sites can be a great source of statistics, recent updates, and background information.
