We have access to a lot of great resources at the Cook Library. However, not everything that you find via library databases or other means will be current, accurate, or relevant for your needs. Every resource has some sort of bias, and it is up to you to determine if that particular bias is acceptable or unacceptable in your given context.
When you are evaluating scholarly literature, it is important to consider the underlying science behind the study before you decide to use it in your research. Think about strengths and weakness of the experimental design, reputation of the publisher, and credentials of the author. Also consider how each study fits within the broader scope of your research. You may also consider how impactful a given article or journal is within your field of research. Several resources to help you make that determination are linked on this page.
These are just a few criteria to consider when you are evaluating the information you find. Use your best judgment, and don't hesitate to ask your librarian if you're ever unsure about anything.
The video below explains how you can evaluate a scientific research article to determine if it is a high quality source that is appropriate to cite in your own research. A word document version of this same content is also linked below.
