Evaluating Information: All Resources

Non-fiction material is based in fact and usually supported with research, evidence, and/or observation. Non-fiction sources are generally preferred in a research paper. News, scholarly articles, biography, history, art, religion, cooking, and more are examples of non-fiction sources. In the Nicolet College Library, a call number beginning with anything other than P is non-fiction.

Fiction material is created from imagination, and usually consists of invented characters, plot/story, conflict, and resolution. Typically, fictional sources with proper citation should only be used for limited purposes, such as to illustrate a point or as a source of inspiration. 

A close examination of a fictional resource (or elements/aspects within it) may be the topic of a paper, especially in literature or humanities-type studies. Typically, your conclusions or arguments should also be supported by non-fiction sources.

Mysteries, romances, fantasy, scifi, plays, most graphic novels and feature films, and more are examples of fiction sources. In the Nicolet College Library, call numbers beginning with P are fiction, except for language studies, literary criticism and author biographies. 

Some non-fiction topics are not generally considered valid by the scientific community at this point in time. These may be interesting for personal study but are likely not appropriate for a research project. Examples include:

• Paranormal topics such as ghosts, aliens, cryptozoology, reincarnation, past lives, etc.
• "Alternate reality" subjects like the Mandela effect, the simulation/matrix hypothesis, travel between parallel universes, time travel, etc.  
• "Alternative science" subjects such as anti-vaxxing, homeopathic medicine, climate change denial, flat earth, etc.
• Extra-human powers such as precognition, telepathy, telekinesis, astral projection, remote viewing, etc. 
• Conspiracy theories 
• Religion, spirituality, or demonology

Talk to your instructor first before going any further in the research process if you are considering a topic like any of these.

Consider all of the following criteria (CRAP):

• Currency: Newer sources are generally preferable, unless you are looking for historical information or perspectives: Within 3-5 years for scientific/technical areas; last 10 years for literature/humanities type areas. Determine if there have been recent developments since its publication. See “websites” tab for website specific indicators. Be very skeptical of a source with no publication date.
• Reliability: Examine resources for evidence of thorough research and/or demonstrated expertise, and look for red flags in their cited sources. Be extremely skeptical of any source with no cited sources.

Determine the publisher and its reputation in academics. Corporate publishers have a vetting process prior to publication that gives some assurance of scholarly credibility, but self-published sources typically lack that process. For websites, see the “websites” tab for a table of extensions and the associated level of reliability.

• Authorship: Author/authorship refers to the creator of written or media sources. Authors can be individuals or organizations.

Determine the author’s credentials, if they have demonstrated expertise, their reputation in the field, and/or their affiliation with a reputable research institution such as a university or hospital, or government agency. For websites, look for an "about us" page, contact information, and an indication of the mission of the organization. Be extremely skeptical of any source if you can’t determine the author.

• Purpose: Determine if the resource was created to provide impartial information, or was it created to inflame emotions or sell a product. Be extremely skeptical if it was created for any purpose other than to inform.

Examine the word choices and imagery used in the source. Indicators of informational sources include:

• Appeals to logic and reason with more objective and neutral word choices and imagery. 
• Highlights facts over discussions of opinions or beliefs. 
• Captions tend to objectively describe the circumstances in the image. 
• Discusses even upsetting subjects (such as animal cruelty) matter-of-factly and objectively.