In this “information age” when so much information is available at our fingertips on the Internet, it is crucial to be able to critically search through the reams of information in order to select credible sources that can provide reliable and useful data to support your ideas and convince your audience.

Types of Sources

 Many technical projects require a literature review, which collects, summarizes and sometimes evaluates the work of researchers in a field whose work has been recognized as a valuable contribution to the “state of the art.” However, they are not the only kinds of research you will find useful. Since you are researching in a professional field and preparing for the workplace, you will draw upon many credible kinds of sources in a professional context.

The better your sources are, the more credible and persuasive your argument will be. You will want to use sources that are directed to a professional audience- people who are working in the field.

Scholarly articles published in academic journals are usually required sources in academic research essays; they are also an integral part of engineering projects and technical reports. Academic journals differ from popular sources, as shown in Figure 1.3.1. These contain peer-reviewed articles written by scholars, often presenting their original research, reviewing the original research of others, or performing a “meta-analysis” (an analysis of multiple studies that analyze a given topic). If you would like to refresh your memory on this, watch Scholarly, Popular, and Trade Sources by Auburn University.

Watch out for opinion pieces in these arguments as opinions are not strong evidence in research writing.

Table 1.3.1 lists several types of sources you may find useful in researching your projects.

Table 1.3.1. Typical research sources for technical projects (Kyte, 2024) [Used under CC BY 4.0]

Background Information

When researching complex topics, it might help to get some background information before doing a full search. You might look at your class materials, your textbook, or an encyclopedia. You might use Wikipedia, and while you won’t cite Wikipedia as source, it can help you get started on your topic. Watch Using Wikipedia for Academic Research to get tips on using Wikipedia as part of your search strategy.

“Using Wikipedia for Academic Research” by Michael Baird (Clipinfolit, 2011) [Used under CC BY 3.0]. Running time: 3:36

You could also look at a specialized encyclopedia available through the Library.

Searching

You will likely attend a workshop led by a librarian who will give you tips on searching for relevant information to your specific program. Some information that applies to all programs is below. You should also consult the SaskPolytech Library Research Guide for your program where you will find key databases for technical research.

In simple terms, search engines and other search tools can be categorized into general or specialized. General search engines give many results but require extra work to find technical sources. Specialized search engines give focused results, but may require extra search skills to use them effectively. Search engines can specialize in a particular format (articles or images), or they may specialize in a subject area (engineering or health). Some search engines specialize in both, such as engineering articles. Your SaskPolytech Library Research Guide will have specialized search engines relevant to your program. Below is a summary of the pros of specialized search engines, also known as databases:

Table 1.3.2. Advantages to specialized databases. (Adapted from Gunton et al., 2025) [Used under CC BY 4.0(opens in new tab)]

Your library workshop should cover search skills. If you are interested in learning more before the workshop, you can see Introduction to Research from a Saskatchewan Polytechnic librarian. One page to note is “Getting Access to Materials.” You may find a source that asks you to pay to view it. The Library may already have that content available, or you can request it using Interlibrary Loans.

Reading Scholarly Articles and Taking Notes

When you read scholarly articles, you don’t usually read them from start to finish. Read the abstract first so you know if the article is relevant to your topic. Watch Reading Scholarly Articles for more tips on how to make the most of scholarly articles:

Reading Scholarly Articles  by UVU Fulton Library Instruction. [Used under Fair Dealing]. Run time 3:17

If you want more tips, see the three-pass method in Video 4.2 from McMaster University (run time 4:32). As you are making notes, make sure to keep track of which source you are using and the page number or run time where you can find that specific information or data again. You’ll need this information when you write your technical report.

Managing Your Sources

It is helpful to have a plan to manage your sources before you start searching. You will want to store the full content if you are able to download it, along with the information needed to get to the source again. If you can’t download the item, you’ll want enough information to go back to the source. Later in this book you’ll learn about citing your sources. For now, you might want to note the link, title, first author, and anything else you think you need to get back to the source.

There are many options to store files and information, so you’ll want to use a method that works best for you. You can also contact the Library or Learning Services. They can help you find a method that is personalized for your needs.

Notes

1. Cover images from journals are used to illustrate the difference between popular and scholarly journals, and are for noncommercial, educational use only.

Notes

1. Cover images from journals are used to illustrate the difference between popular and scholarly journals, and are for noncommercial, educational use only.

References