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[[WP:Independent sources|Independent]] and [[WP:RS|reliable]] sources are vital for creating encyclopedia articles. Reliable sources allow editors to [[WP:V|verify]] that claims in an article are ''accurate''. The higher the quality of the source for the statement it backs up, the more likely that statement is to be accurate. Independent sources help editors to write ''[[WP:NPOV|neutrally]]'' and to prove that the subject has ''[[WP:N|received note]]''. Wherever possible, editors should aim to use sources that are independent and highly reliable for the subjects they write about.
Many of the best sources are not available online, or are only available under subscription. For example, many books are not available online at all, and subscription to academic databases such as [[JSTOR]] can be fairly expensive. However, it is possible to use the
== Types of sources ==
Many types of sources are available, although some are appropriate only in certain situations.
*[[Academic_publishing#Scholarly_paper|Scholarly articles]]: short papers published in [[academic publishing|academic journals]]. They may present original research or review the research of others. Many undergo a process of [[peer review]] before publication. Watch two short videos on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
*[[Book]]s and [[monograph]]s: longer academic or popular works.
*[[Textbook]]s: an instructional or educational manual covering a particular subject area.
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*[[Newspaper]] articles or [[news]] reports: writing or multimedia that discusses current events or editorial analysis. [[WP:NEWSORG|This page]] assesses the reliability of news content.
*Reports and other [[grey literature]]: a broad category that includes most government documents, conference proceedings, and other writings not provided by traditional publishers.
*[[Statistics]]: data, particularly [[census]] data, and analysis.
*[[Thesis|Theses]] and [[dissertation]]s: works created as a requirement for the completion of an advanced postsecondary degree. [[WP:SCHOLARSHIP|This page]] describes some of the considerations in using these types of sources.
*Websites, blogs and other user-generated sources: online content from a variety of authors/publishers. Reliability depends on the editorial control of the website. [[WP:SPS|This page]] discusses issues with user-generated content.
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== Where to look for sources ==
*
**[[
***[[User:Superb Owl/Reliable Source Engine]]: ''only'' includes perennial generally reliable sources, making search results easier to filter out (though some op-ed pages remain). Great option for beginners.
*[[Google Scholar]] is a good general search engine for more academic material, particularly scholarly articles, although some content will be behind a paywall. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJByIPRrTfE This longer video] outlines the use of Google Scholar.▼
***[[User:Syced/Wikipedia Reference Search]]: some websites included (in addition to opinion pages) may not comply with [[WP:RS]], so extra judgment is needed.
*[[Google Books]] indexes millions of books, both academic and popular; however, not all will be available in full text. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86WTyDwfd-E This video] introduces the use of Google Books for research.▼
▲*Several [[
▲*[[Internet Archive]] and [[Google Books]] indexes millions of books, both academic and popular; however, not all will be available in full text.
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCBy9z3f9Mw This video] introduces the use of Internet Archive for research.
**Several publishers make multiple editions of their books available through Google Books. Sometimes, Google initially returns a link only to the e-book edition, but that edition may include links to alternate hardcover or softcover editions which do have original pagination. Google Books limits previews of copyrighted books to a certain number of pages. It is possible to jump ahead to exhaust that number from a later starting page by editing the browser URL. For example, adding "&pg=PA100" will usually jump to page 100. [[WP:GBOOKS]] explains how to cite sources found through Google Books.
**Installing the [[Unpaywall]] extension on your browser helps you find the full text of the articles wherever you found them.
*Public or research libraries have both books and research databases, covering a wide variety of subject areas. [[WP:FYL|Find yours]].
* [[Wikipedia:Free English newspaper sources]] (WP:FENS) provides a list of text-searchable, free (no-pay, non-subscription/-membership/-login) online English newspaper sources.▼
*See if any [[WP:TWL/Resources|free resources]] cover the topic area
▲*
*[[WP:TWL|The Wikipedia Library]] is an initiative to help Wikipedians get access to subscription or paid sources to improve Wikipedia articles. Editors can [[Wikipedia:The_Wikipedia_Library/Journals|apply for access to databases]], [[WP:RX|request specific sources]], or [[WP:RD|request help with research]].▼
** [https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=a0a45496e245345f5#gsc.tab=0&gsc.sort= Search engine of free reliable sources] ([[User:Superb Owl/Reliable Source Engine|project]])
▲*[[WP:TWL|The Wikipedia Library]] is an initiative to help Wikipedians get access to subscription or paid sources to improve Wikipedia articles. Editors can [[Wikipedia:
*Bibliographies on a topic outline the main scholarly sources in a subject area and provide a good starting point, where they are available.
*Once you have found one good scholarly source, you can see what sources it cites and what cited it ([https://sydney.edu.au/library/skills/elearning/print/iResearch_Print_CitationChaining.pdf citation chaining]). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mu4VZVzk0 This video] describes citation chaining using Google Scholar.
*If you are having trouble accessing a particular source, e.g. due to [[General Data Protection Regulation|privacy laws]], try this [[Wikipedia:How to access US news websites|list of ways to get around IP-based restrictions]].
== Evaluating sources ==
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For subjects that have several names or spellings, it may be desirable to use more than one search. This can be as simple as using several {{tl|find sources}} templates.
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