As a researcher, it is your job to assess the sources you find to determine if they are usable for college level research and how you can use them. The "best" type of information depends on what you need and how you plan to use it.
For example:
"I want to know what book/movie comes next in this series." Wikipedia, IMBD, author's website, book/movie blog or fansite
"Congress is proposing a law about ____. For the people in favor, why do they support it?" Editorial/opinion, news articles, pro/con essays
"What are the major issues causing burnout in teachers?" Journal article, empirical research articles, reports, editorial/opinion
ACT UP is a method for evaluating sources to help you determine if the source is credible and meets your information needs.
Evaluate Sources:
Who wrote this?
What qualifies them to talk about this topic?
When was this written?
When was this published (or last updated)?
Does this fit with how current your topic is?
How accurate is this information?
Can you verify any of the claims in other sources?
Are there typos? Spelling mistakes?
What type of source is this? Does it have a review process?
Is the information presented to sway the audience towards one point of view or conclusion?
Do I need impartial information (facts), or am I interested in opinions?
What privileges does the author have? Are they the only type of person who might write or publish on this topic?
Who is missing from the conversation?
How is the topic described, especially in the subject terms or keywords? Are there any inherent biases?
Learn more: bit.ly/act-up-eval
The ACT UP Evaluation Method was created by Dawn Stahura in 2017.
Ask a Librarian: Library@csmd.edu