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SOCI 151: Introductory Sociology

Prof. Light Carruyo, Fall 2024

When selecting sources, how do you select one source over another?
What characteristics might you look for when selecting sources?

Evaluating Sources

Graphic of ACT UP method in acrostic format. ACT UP letters are larger and stylized to look like magazine cutouts. Text reads: Author - who wrote this? what do you know about the author? Are they qualified to speak on this topic? What are the credentials? Can you Google the author? Find a LinkedIn page? Anything else they wrote? Currency - how current is this research? When was it written? When was it published? Does this resource fit into the currency of your topic? Truth - how true/accurate is this information? Does the language of the source contain words to evoke an emotional response? Are there typos and spelling mistakes? Can you verify any of the claims in other sources? Unbias - is the information presented to sway the audience to a particular point of view? Resources should be impartial unless otherwise stated. Remember, bias is not always a bad thing as long as the source is explicit about their agenda. What about confirmation bias? Does this affect the way you search and choose resources? Privilege - check the privilege of the author(s). Why is this research present in the database? Are they the only folks that might write or publish on this topic? Who is missing in this conversation? Critically evaluate the subject terms associated with each resource you found. How are they described? What are the inherent biases of the publishing industry and library classification systems?

(Image text from Dawn Stahura's “ACT UP: Evaluating Sources”) 

If an author is privileged or biased in some way, that should not automatically disqualify a source from being used. However, it’s important to keep it in mind as you work on building your list of sources. This guide to inclusive citation has some helpful tips and information for doing this. 

The BEAM model provides a framework for identifying how you might use a source in your own research. 

BEAM model details: Background to present information and establish facts; Exhibit to explicate, interpret, analyze; Argument to affirm, dispute, refine, extend; and Method to provide a critical lens, key terms, theory, style, perspective and discourse

Ask yourself questions like these about each book or article you include:

  1. Has the author formulated a problem/issue?
  2. Is it clearly defined? Is its significance (scope, severity, relevance) clearly established?
  3. Could the problem have been approached more effectively from another perspective?
  4. What is the author’s research orientation (e.g., interpretive, critical science, combination)?
  5. What is the author’s theoretical framework (e.g., psychological, developmental, feminist)?
  6. What is the relationship between the theoretical and research perspectives?
  7. Has the author evaluated the literature relevant to the problem/issue? Does the author include literature taking positions she or he does not agree with?
  8. In a research study, how good are the basic components of the study design (e.g., population, intervention, outcome)? How accurate and valid are the measurements? Is the analysis of the data accurate and relevant to the research question? Are the conclusions validly based upon the data and analysis?
  9. In material written for a popular readership, does the author use appeals to emotion, one-sided examples, or rhetorically-charged language and tone? Is there an objective basis to the reasoning, or is the author merely “proving” what he or she already believes?
  10. How does the author structure the argument? Can you “deconstruct” the flow of the argument to see whether or where it breaks down logically (e.g., in establishing cause-effect relationships)?
  11. In what ways does this book or article contribute to our understanding of the problem under study, and in what ways is it useful for practice? What are the strengths and limitations?
  12. How does this book or article relate to the specific thesis or question I am developing?

From: University of Toronto. The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It.

As you start your research and throughout your research process, consider:

  • Which groups seem to be at the center of debates and analysis for the topic you are interested in? Are there any groups at the margins or periphery of research? Are there groups that are mentioned but not prioritized?
    • Who are the stakeholders? 
    • What voices could or should be included in your research?
    • If you looking at a particular community or geographic region, do you have sources from that community or region?
    • Are particular groups especially affected by the topic you're discussing? Do you have sources from those groups?
  • Where are the 'community spaces' (physical or digital spaces, or resources) where different groups have a voice and are able to freely express, represent, and self-determine their own identities?  

Journal Impact Factor (JIF) is a measure of the frequency in which the "average article" from a particular journal has been cited in a given period of time. Web of Science provides the JIF; hover over the journal title in the results list or item record to view the journal's impact factor and quartile ranking. 

Journal Quartile Rankings are perhaps a more useful metric and are calculated ranking the JIF for journals in a specific disciplinary category and then dividing the list by four to assign the quartile; Q1 contains journals with the most citations; Q4 with the least. 

NOTE: Citation metrics are imperfect, and provide just one way that scholars evaluate the relative quality of a journal. 

Image from University of Denver Libraries