Starting your research: Page 3 of 6
Selecting the right source
Now that you know the wide range of sources available to you, how do you select the best one for your research?
If you're working on an assignment for a class, consult your syllabus first. Sometimes your professor will require certain information sources.
| If you need... | You might try... |
| Background information early in the research process, such as the history of railroads. |
 Books or Encyclopedias |
| Popular articles about new movies or social trends. |
 Magazines |
| Current information about a speech yesterday by President Obama. |
 Newspapers or the internet |
| Scholarly articles about the Chinese economy or the human genome. |
 Journals |
