How to Find Credible Sources for a Dissertation

Finding credible sources for your dissertation is crucial for ensuring that your work is based on solid evidence and contributes meaningfully to your field of study. Here’s how to find credible sources:

1. Use Academic Databases

Why Use Them: Academic databases index peer-reviewed articles, books, and other scholarly materials, making them a reliable starting point for finding credible sources.
Databases to Use:
- Google Scholar: Provides access to scholarly articles, theses, books, and patents.
- JSTOR: Indexes a broad range of academic journals, primarily in the humanities and social sciences.
- PubMed: Essential for health and life sciences research.
- ProQuest: A comprehensive database that includes dissertations, theses, journals, and more.

2. Search for Peer-Reviewed Sources

Why Peer-Reviewed Matters: Peer-reviewed sources are reviewed by experts in the field for quality and credibility. These sources are more likely to be reliable, well-researched, and free of bias.
How to Find Them: Most academic databases, including Google Scholar and JSTOR, allow you to filter results by peer-reviewed articles.

3. Check the Author’s Credentials

Why Author Credentials Matter: The qualifications and expertise of the author are important indicators of the credibility of the source. Established scholars with advanced degrees in the field are more likely to produce high-quality, reliable research.
How to Check: Look up the author’s academic background, current position, and previous publications. Databases like Google Scholar provide author profiles with citation counts and publication lists.

4. Review Citation Counts

Why Citation Counts Matter: Frequently cited papers are often considered influential in the field. While citation counts shouldn’t be the only indicator of quality, high citation counts often signal the importance of the work.
How to Find Citation Counts: Google Scholar and Scopus allow you to view citation counts for each article, giving you a sense of its impact.

5. Evaluate the Publisher

Why Publisher Matters: Well-known academic publishers (e.g., Springer, Oxford University Press, Wiley, Cambridge University Press) are often associated with high-quality research.
How to Check: Research the publisher’s reputation in your field. Reputable journals and publishers are often indexed in databases like JSTOR, Elsevier, and SpringerLink.

6. Use University Library Resources

Why University Libraries Matter: University libraries provide access to curated, high-quality sources and often have subscriptions to journals or databases that are otherwise behind paywalls.
How to Access: Use your university’s online library portal to access databases like ProQuest, JSTOR, and ScienceDirect. Ask your librarian for recommendations on finding credible sources.