How to search for information: Use reliable sources

Book, article, blog, or website? Evaluate all sources with the same criteria.

Author

• Who is the author or publisher of the information? Is the author an expert in this particular field? If the author and publisher are unknown, don't use the source.
• Are they experts in this field? A scholar is an expert only in their own field.
• What is their educational background?
• Where is the author employed? Do they work at a university, research organization, or other reliable expert organization?
• Does the author have other publications?
• Generative artificial intelligence tools based on large language models (ChatGPT, Copilot etc.) are not authors. Do not use text generated by an AI tool as a source. Check the information in reliable sources and use those as source material. 

 Objectivity

• Does the author represent an interest group or a particular ideology? Information they present may be biased.
• Fact or an opinion? Facts can usually be verified from other sources.
• What evidence is given in support of the information? Is the evidence based on research or is the writer trying to appeal to your emotions?

Currency

• Is the information up-to-date? Do you know when the information was published or the website updated?
• Information does not become outdated at the same rate in all fields. Do you need information from a rapidly or a more slowly developing field?
• The most up-to-date information is not necessarily found in books. Information is published more quickly in other types of sources, such as articles and online publications.

Scope

• Is the topic covered sufficiently broadly and from different perspectives? Is a perspective missing?
• Find multiple sources on the same topic. Do other experts in the field share the view presented in your source? The more a source's perspective differs from the general opinion of experts, the more critically it should be approached.
• You can enhance the scope by obtaining different types of sources on the topic. Books help you become familiar with the topic and provide an overview, but they do not necessarily explore the subject very deeply. Research publications and expert articles often examine the topic in more detail, but from a narrow perspective. Using diverse sources enables you to cover the topic from both a broader and more detailed perspective.

Audience and purpose

• Who is the information intended for? Experts in the field or the general public? Publications intended for the general public are not suitable sources for student reports.
• Why was the source published? Is the purpose to provide unbiased information to experts in the field, such as new research findings or technologies that can be utilized in the industry? If the purpose is to shape opinions, market services, or entertain, you shouldn't use the source.

Origin

• Has someone reviewed or edited the content before publication? Does the publication use peer review, have an editorial board, or a reputable publisher independent of the author?
• Are the sources of the information reported? Can you find the sources and are they reliable?
• Find the original source whenever possible.
  • The Economist publishes an article about a recent research report. Find the original report and use it as your source.
• Artificial intelligence tools based on large language models (ChatGPT, Copilot etc.) are not reliable sources. They may produce incorrect information or invent sources that do not exist. Always check the information provided by AI, find the original source and assess its reliability. For more information on using AI tools, see our guide AI in information searching.

Sources based on research: scientific research articles, reports, conference papers and doctoral dissertations

How to recognize a scientific publication?

• Written by researchers
• Reports detailed research results
• Peer-reviewed
• Uses specialized terminology
• Includes a reference list and in-text citations
• Structure: abstract, introduction, methods, results, conclusions

The image below shows an example of a scientific article. Click on the image to view it larger.

Tip!

Reading a scientific publication from start to finish in one sitting can be challenging. Try this reading order instead:

1. abstract - if it seems interesting, then
2. results and conclusions (what was discovered and what it means)
3. introduction (what is already known, why further research was conducted)
4. methods (how the research was conducted)

Theses from universities of applied sciences are not suitable sources. In rare cases, a master's thesis (pro gradu) may be considered. However, theses can give you ideas for your own work. You may find interesting source material in their lists of references. Just remember to acquire and use the original sources.

Official sources: laws, data and research published by public authorities

Information published by organizations such as Statistics Finland, Finnish institute of Occupational Health, or Finnish Food Safety Authority.

Professional information, expert organizations and professional associations

Professional information is produced by organizations such as the Association of Finnish Accounting Firms, TIEKE (Finnish Information Society Development Centre), or the Finnish Real Estate Federation. Evaluate professional sources from, among others, these perspectives:

• Many professional or expert organizations are also advocacy groups for their respective fields. Pay attention to the objectivity and comprehensiveness of the information.
• The purpose of blogs, articles, or similar content published by companies is not to share impartial information, even though the authors may work in expert roles within the company. The target audience for these publications is potential customers, and their purpose is to market the company’s services.

• Are you able to critically evaluate the information you encounter in digital environments? Can you recognize different forms of information manipulation?
• Do you practise lateral reading?
• Are you capable of safeguarding your privacy and ensuring your cybersecurity? 
• Are you aware of how different AI algorithms influence what you encounter in online environments?

Help for improving your digital literacy: