Peer Review

Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research

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Reviewed:: Oct 3, 2025 by ICT Literacy

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Engaging graphics, compelling examples, and easy-to-understand explanations make Choosing and Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research, your most valuable, open access resource for completing research-based writing assignments and projects. With this free-of-cost guide, students are better equipped to tackle the challenges of developing research questions, evaluating and choosing the right sources, searching for information, avoiding plagiarism, and much more. With Choosing and Using Sources, you have: Research help through short videos, easy-to-follow explanations, and self-quizzes, designed to help increase your understanding of the research process. A guide with easy-to-navigate chapters and tips to help you figure out what your instructor may be asking for in a writing assignment or research project. Time savings and increased confidence to successfully carry out research for your class.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Textbook

Recommended Uses:

Ask students to read the relevant chapters before class and do the activities (checks for understanding), and then discuss issues in class. Then they can use the information as a reference while conducting their own research study.

Technical Requirements:

Works in Windows browsers; read online or download in multiple formats

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Learners will be able to:

Develop research questions
Search for & evaluate information resources
Explain plagiarism
Cite resources

Target Student Population:

College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

basic ICT literacy skills

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The content is clearly and accurately written. Information is current, well summarized, and is written by academic librarians. The material is self-contained, and can be used in a variety of settings. Enough information is provided for readers to be successful in locating, evaluating and citing materials. Links work, and content is appropriately attributed.
Concerns:: none

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The learning objectives reflect core ICT literacy standards. The material is targeted to college students, and walks through research questions and resources in a logical matter, with each chapter building on prior ones. Content matter is presented efficiently. The book structure facilitates writing assignments, and the material os applicable to ICT literacy, academics, and professional life.
Concerns:: none

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The book is structure din short snippets so is easily comprehended. The layout is professional looking, and the videos are engaging. The actitivities, including checks for understanding, usually provide feedback, which facilitates learning. The site can be navigated in a couple of ways independently. Most of the material appears to be ADA-compliant.
Concerns:: It would be nice to download the entire work.

Other Issues and Comments:: This book is a useful free alternative to tests on this subject.
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