Your argument is only as strong as the evidence behind it. Tutors look closely at the sources you use, and relying on weak or outdated material is one of the most common reasons good assignments lose marks.
Where to start looking
- Your reading list. Your tutor has already chosen these as relevant and reliable.
- Your library’s search tool. Most colleges and universities give you free access to e-books and journal databases.
- Google Scholar. Useful for finding academic articles. Check whether your library gives you free access to the full text.
- Official and professional bodies. For example UK government statistics, the NHS, the Office for National Statistics, professional bodies and regulators.
The credibility checklist
Before you use a source, ask these questions:
- Who wrote it? Is the author an expert, researcher or recognised organisation?
- Where was it published? Is it a peer-reviewed journal, an academic book or an official report?
- When was it published? Is it recent enough for your topic? Health, policy and technology change quickly.
- Why was it written? Is it trying to inform, or to sell, persuade or entertain?
- Is it supported by evidence? Does it include data, research and references of its own?
A useful rule: if you cannot tell who wrote it, when it was written or where the information came from, it is probably not suitable as academic evidence.
Sources to use with care
- Wikipedia: fine for getting a quick overview, but follow its references to the original sources and cite those instead.
- News articles: useful for current examples, but they are not research. Pair them with academic evidence.
- Company websites: good for facts about that company, but remember they may present themselves positively.
- Blogs and social media: usually not suitable as evidence unless written by a recognised expert or organisation.
- AI chatbots: they can produce confident answers that are wrong, and can even invent references. Never cite a source you have not found and read yourself, and check your institution’s rules on AI use.
How many sources do I need?
It depends on your level and word count, so check your brief or ask your tutor. Quality matters more than quantity: a smaller number of strong, relevant academic sources is better than a long list of weak ones.
Keep track as you go
Every time you find a useful source, save the full reference details and a short note on what it says and how you might use it. This makes writing, and referencing, much faster later.