15 Reliable Sources

Once you pick your topic or you have a topic and you need to back up your opinions with research, you’ll need to visit  your library or at the very least use the internet to find sources.

Generally, websites with the extensions .mil, .edu, or .gov are reliable, but you need to be careful when using .com or .org sites because these sites may be purchased and could contain the purchaser’s bias.

Databases are collections of magazines that libraries subscribe to.  The databases may be field specific – for example, you can have databases that only contain business related articles, or others may only contain information on health issues.  Database articles from journals are good sources of information because they have been reviewed by experts in the field.  You can ask your librarian they currently subscribe to and they can help you access them in the library and from home.

Videos, movies, lectures, and other types of source materials may or may not be considered reliable because in these materials, there is a chance of bias from the author, director, producer, or playwright.

Using testimonials from friends and family are generally not recommended as you want to use sources that have scientifically verified information or information that has been gathered using research protocols established by colleges, universities, or organizations.  Blogs and tweets are also not good sources to use as they are based on opinions, not verified facts. Wikipedia can be edited by readers and many professors will not accept this as a reliable source.  Check with your instructor to see what kinds of sources are acceptable.