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Working with literature: a guide for Education doctoral students

How do I identify high quality sources?

Subject specific databases
Citation indices
Discovery
Google Scholar
Library catalogue

Access search tools from https://unimelb.libguides.com/ednresearch/ednresearch-databases

What are high quality sources?

Potential Criteria : which may relevant depending on the context and purpose of your research

Evaluating for quality is also commonly referred to as 'critical appraisal'.

Fit for purpose
Relevancy (the paper discusses one of the topics I have identified)
Quality
Depends on the context of your research
Peer reviewed/scholarly
Authority
Factual accuracy
Sound research design
Data published
Research methodologically clearly outlined
Theoretical frameworks/anchored in the subject discourse and roots – theoretical articles should be included
Authors of empirical research reports will often discuss the theoretical literature. Follow these leads
Uncover the seminal and landmark studies and theorists in the area
You will notice certain authors’ names mentioned repeatedly while reading
Consider searching for grey literature, and/or unpublished studies in addition to all the other literature

How do I know I have retrieved and read high quality sources?

Peer reviewed. You can use the UlrichsWeb : global serials directory to check if a journal is peer reviewed.
Primary research/primary sources
Secondary research/secondary sources
Where did you start?
Evidence that it is current
Documentation of method/sound methods
Rigorous – following academic conventions
Taken up in the research conversation or discourse – evidence via use or citation

Further reading

Academic literature

Hayton, J. (2013, February 13). Understanding academic literature | James Hayton’s PhD advice website. https://jameshaytonphd.com/quick-tips/understanding-academic-literature
Hayton, J. (2015, October 9). How much literature is enough? | James Hayton’s PhD advice website. https://jameshaytonphd.com/quick-tips/how-much-literature-is-enough

Credibility

University of Maryland. (n.d.). What is a “Good” Source? Determining the validity of evidence (Module 1). Library Resources: Professional Writing Program. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://umd.instructure.com/courses/1082806/pages/what-is-a-good-source-determining-the-validity-of-evidence
University of Louisville Writing Center. (n.d.). How can I find good sources for my research paper? Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://louisville.edu/writingcenter/for-students-1/common-writing-questions-1/frequently-asked-questions/i-can2019t-find-good-sources-for-my-research-paper

Critical appraisal resources

The Joanna Briggs Institute. (n.d.). Critical appraisal tools. Retrieved August 4, 2022, from https://jbi.global/critical-appraisal-tools

Downloadable critical appraisal checklists: Look specifically for these checklists - Checklist for qualitative research; Checklist for Experimental Studies; Checklist for text and opinion

Finding good sources : grey literature - Need more resources?

Giustini, D. (2019). Retrieving grey literature, information, and data in the digital age. In H. Cooper, L. V. Hedges, & J. C. Valentine (Eds.), Handbook of research synthesis and meta-analysis (3rd ed., pp. 101–126). Russell Sage Foundation. University of Melbourne access only.
Condron, P. (2020). Searching for Grey Literature: Introduction. https://unimelb.libguides.com/greylit
A set of interactive modules to teach principles for looking for known and unknown grey literature sources

Potential search terms for terms for Google or the Library catalogue to retrieve advice

judging quality/good literature
blogs doctoral (quality OR good) literature identify