| Have you ever received feedback on an assessment | | | | through the process explained above to ensure that |
| telling you that the sources you used were not | | | | they are of a high standard. You can also search so |
| academic? Have you ever used Wikipedia or another | | | | that you only receive results for articles that are |
| non-academic source in your research? Do you find | | | | available in their full electronic versions. |
| knowing what sources to use and what sources not | | | | Internet resources |
| to use confusing? Do you have trouble knowing | | | | As explained above, there is no way of ensuring the |
| where to go to get the information you need for | | | | standard of information that is uploaded to the |
| your research? | | | | internet. Anyone can publish anything on the internet, |
| Being able to tell the difference between an | | | | thus websites are not the ideal place for you to go |
| academic source and a non-academic source, | | | | to get your information. When you do use the |
| knowing where to find academic sources and deciding | | | | internet and website for your research, you need to |
| what sources are relevant to your research are | | | | be sure that you are consulting reputable sources. |
| important skills that you will develop during your | | | | For example, websites published by governments, |
| tertiary studies. The aim of this information sheet is | | | | universities, the United Nations and national |
| to point you in the right direction. | | | | organisations like the Australian Practice Nurses |
| Books, monographs and textbooks | | | | Association, will generally contain quality information. |
| The first place you should go is the library, even if | | | | However, it is important to note that these sources |
| this means ordering in books from other libraries. For | | | | are not considered academic sources if they have |
| academics to have their books (and journal articles) | | | | not been written by academics. Nonetheless, unless |
| published, they must go through a process called | | | | you have been specifically requested by your tutor |
| peer-reviewing. During this process, one or more | | | | or lecturer to only use sources written by academics, |
| other academics who are experts in the field will read | | | | you can often find valuable information from these |
| and assess a book or article to decide if it is of | | | | reputable websites that may assist you in your |
| publishable standard. This is why your research will be | | | | research. Just be careful that you know exactly who |
| of the highest quality if you use books, monographs, | | | | has published the information on the internet and be |
| textbooks and journal articles written by academics | | | | sure to record the exact URL for your reference list. |
| for your research, because the work had to meet | | | | A useful guide but not definitive: Where to go for |
| academic standards. There is no such process for | | | | more information |
| publishing on the internet; anyone can write whatever | | | | The above information is only a guide and ultimately |
| they like on any subject. | | | | where you find most of your sources will depend on |
| Journal articles and electronic databases | | | | what your essay topic is. For example, if you were |
| Your second stop after books, monographs and | | | | writing a Sociology essay on an aspect of the media |
| textbooks will be journal articles. Some of these will | | | | you would need to consult newspapers, television |
| only be available in hardcopy from the library, but | | | | programmes and internet news websites. |
| many will be available in their full-text versions | | | | If you are in doubt about what types of sources to |
| through online electronic databases, such as JStore, | | | | use, check your course information booklet for more |
| ProQuest and Ingenta. (Access to these databases is | | | | information about your particular assessment piece. |
| through the university library catalogue.) | | | | Find out if there is a recommended reading list that |
| When you search the electronic databases, make | | | | you can begin with, and then use the sources listed in |
| sure you modify your search so that you are only | | | | those readings to find further sources. If you are still |
| given results from peer-reviewed journals. This will | | | | not sure, check with your lecturer or tutor. |
| ensure that the journal articles you find have gone | | | | |