Finding and Evaluating Sources: A Guide for Literary Research

Question 1

In evaluating the reliability of a scholarly source for literary research, which factor is most crucial?

Accepted Answer

Author's reputation and expertise

Answer

Currency of the source

Answer

Length and comprehensiveness of the source

Answer

Personal beliefs and biases of the author

Question 2

When evaluating the credibility of a source for academic research, which of the following is NOT a primary criterion?

Accepted Answer

Style

Answer

Accuracy

Answer

Bias

Answer

Authority

Question 3

Define the primary purpose of a literature review.

Accepted Answer

Summarizing and synthesizing existing research on a specific topic

Answer

Introducing an original argument or theory

Answer

Critically analyzing a specific work or collection of works

Answer

Advocating for a particular viewpoint

Question 4

Distinguish between a primary and a secondary source.

Accepted Answer

Primary sources offer firsthand accounts of events or experiences, while secondary sources analyze or interpret primary sources

Answer

Secondary sources are inherently more reliable than primary sources

Answer

Primary sources are authored by field experts, while secondary sources are written by non-experts

Answer

Primary sources are always more recent than secondary sources

Question 5

Which of the following is a reputable online academic database?

Accepted Answer

JSTOR

Answer

Google Scholar

Answer

Wikipedia

Answer

Quora

Question 6

What is the main difference between a primary and a secondary source?

Accepted Answer

Primary sources are firsthand accounts, while secondary sources interpret or analyze primary sources.

Answer

Secondary sources are firsthand accounts, while primary sources interpret or analyze secondary sources.

Answer

Primary sources are recent publications, while secondary sources are older.

Answer

Secondary sources are more reliable than primary sources.

Question 7

Which of the following search strategies is most effective for finding relevant sources?

Accepted Answer

Using specific keywords and Boolean operators

Answer

Searching only one or two databases

Answer

Including too broad search terms

Answer

Ignoring the subject headings provided by the database

Question 8

What is a crucial aspect of avoiding plagiarism?

Accepted Answer

Citing all borrowed ideas and sources

Answer

Quoting directly without using quotation marks

Answer

Paraphrasing using your own words

Answer

Using a plagiarism checker

Question 9

Which of the following is a reputable academic database for literary research?

Accepted Answer

JSTOR

Answer

Google Scholar

Answer

Wikipedia

Answer

Quora

Question 10

What is a key feature of a peer-reviewed journal article?

Accepted Answer

It has undergone rigorous review by experts in the field

Answer

It is written by a知名 author

Answer

It is widely cited in other academic works

Answer

It is published in a magazine

Question 11

When assessing an online source, which factor is NOT a reliable indicator of credibility?

Accepted Answer

Use of sensational or biased language

Answer

Author's affiliation with a reputable institution

Answer

Presence of references and citations

Answer

Website domain (.gov, .edu, .org)

Question 12

What is the primary purpose of using keywords in a literature search?

Accepted Answer

To narrow the search results

Answer

To broaden the search results

Answer

To exclude irrelevant results

Answer

To improve the search engine's performance

Question 13

What is a potential limitation of relying solely on electronic databases for literary research?

Accepted Answer

Limited access to older or obscure materials

Answer

Difficulty in verifying the authenticity of sources

Answer

Bias towards certain publishers or journals

Answer

Increased likelihood of plagiarism

Question 14

What is the main purpose of a bibliography in literary research?

Accepted Answer

To provide a list of sources consulted

Answer

To summarize the main arguments of the research

Answer

To provide a critique of the research

Answer

To suggest further reading on the topic

Question 15

Which of the following is a crucial step in evaluating the currency of a source?

Accepted Answer

Verifying the publication date

Answer

Assessing the significance of the topic

Answer

Checking the author's reputation

Answer

Examining the references and citations

Question 16

What is a significant advantage of utilizing a subject librarian for literary research?

Accepted Answer

Personalized guidance in identifying and evaluating sources

Answer

Access to exclusive databases and resources

Answer

Guarantee of superior research outcomes

Answer

Elimination of independent research efforts

Question 17

Which of the following is an essential ethical consideration when using sources in literary research?

Accepted Answer

Proper citation and referencing of all sources

Answer

Rephrasing or copying sources without attribution

Answer

Using sources that align with personal biases

Answer

Excluding sources presenting contrasting perspectives

Question 18

What is the primary objective of a literature review in literary research?

Accepted Answer

To synthesize existing knowledge on a topic

Answer

To introduce original research findings

Answer

To assess the strengths and weaknesses of a specific theory

Answer

To provide a comprehensive overview of a literary period

Question 19

Which of the following is typically NOT considered a scholarly source?

Accepted Answer

Newspaper article

Answer

Peer-reviewed journal article

Answer

Monograph

Answer

Conference proceeding

Question 20

When evaluating peer-reviewed sources, which of the following is an important factor to consider?

Accepted Answer

The conclusions have been carefully examined for objectivity.

Answer

The source is guaranteed to be free of bias.

Answer

The research findings are always accurate.

Answer

The source is always up-to-date because of the review process.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a valid criterion for evaluating the credibility of a source?

Accepted Answer

Personal opinions or beliefs of the author

Answer

Author's credentials and affiliations

Answer

Relevance to the research topic

Answer

Recent publication date

Question 22

What is the main goal of a literature review?

Accepted Answer

To analyze existing research on a topic

Answer

To provide an extensive summary of all literature

Answer

To criticize a specific work or theory

Answer

To present original research and findings

Question 23

Which type of source is most likely to offer in-depth analysis and scholarly perspectives?

Accepted Answer

Peer-reviewed academic journals

Answer

Magazine articles

Answer

Encyclopedia entries

Answer

Blog posts

Question 24

What is a telltale sign that a source is biased?

Accepted Answer

Use of inflammatory language or personal attacks

Answer

Lack of references to other sources

Answer

Clearly defined thesis statement

Answer

Inclusion of diverse perspectives

Question 25

Which search strategy is most effective for finding relevant scholarly sources?

Accepted Answer

Specific keywords with appropriate filters

Answer

Broad keywords without filters

Answer

Google search without using quotation marks

Answer

Searching for exact phrases without quotation marks

Question 26

What is the primary purpose of the reference list in an academic paper?

Accepted Answer

To acknowledge and provide citations for the sources used

Answer

To provide a summary of the main arguments presented

Answer

To introduce the main concepts explored in the paper

Answer

To demonstrate the author's extensive knowledge and erudition

Question 27

What is a distinctive characteristic of a peer-reviewed source?

Accepted Answer

It has been reviewed and approved by experts in the field

Answer

It is published in a reputable academic journal

Answer

It is written by an established and respected author

Answer

It presents popular opinions and widely-held beliefs

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a type of bias that can influence research findings?

Accepted Answer

Bias-free research

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Publication bias

Answer

Author's personal beliefs and experiences

Question 29

Revised: What is the primary purpose of a citation?

Accepted Answer

Revised: To provide a reference to a source that supports information or ideas in a research paper

Answer

To summarize the main points of a source

Answer

To provide a personal opinion or reflection on a source

Answer

To list keywords that relate to a source

Question 30

How does bias affect the reliability of a source?

Accepted Answer

Bias decreases reliability because it may lead the author to present information that supports their viewpoint.

Answer

Bias increases reliability by showing the author's unwavering perspective.

Answer

Bias has no impact on reliability.

Question 31

Revised: What is the primary purpose of using a library catalog when conducting research?

Accepted Answer

Revised: To locate books and articles on a specific topic

Answer

To evaluate the quality and validity of sources

Answer

To access the full text of sources online

Answer

To learn about the latest developments in a field of study

Question 32

Revised: Which type of source typically provides the most original and up-to-date research findings?

Accepted Answer

Revised: Peer-reviewed academic journal articles

Answer

Textbooks

Answer

Literary anthologies

Answer

Magazine articles

Question 33

When evaluating sources for literary research, which factor is MOST important for determining credibility?

Accepted Answer

Author's expertise

Answer

Relevance to the research topic

Answer

Recency of the information

Answer

Objectivity of the information

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a scholarly source typically?

Accepted Answer

Written in an informal style

Answer

Peer-reviewed

Answer

Written by an expert

Answer

Published in a reputable journal

Question 35

Can you differentiate between a primary and a secondary source?

Accepted Answer

Primary sources are firsthand accounts, whereas secondary sources analyze those accounts.

Answer

Secondary sources are firsthand accounts, whereas primary sources analyze those accounts.

Answer

Primary sources are written by experts, whereas secondary sources are written by non-experts.

Answer

There is no distinction between primary and secondary sources.

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a credible source?

Accepted Answer

Provides unsupported claims

Answer

Has a clearly identified author

Answer

Is peer-reviewed

Answer

Presents accurate information

Question 37

Which type of source is most suitable for exploring diverse viewpoints on a complex literary issue?

Accepted Answer

Literary criticism

Answer

Textbooks

Answer

Book reviews

Answer

Encyclopedias

Question 38

When searching for sources using a library catalog, it is important to:

Accepted Answer

Utilize relevant keywords, subject headings, and search filters

Answer

Limit the search to a narrow date range

Answer

Search exclusively for books

Answer

Disregard the peer-review status of sources

Question 39

Which of the following is a key element of a well-structured literature review?

Accepted Answer

Synthesizes and analyzes relevant sources

Answer

Summarizes one or two primary sources

Answer

Includes extensive direct quotations

Question 40

When evaluating the credibility of a website, it is crucial to:

Accepted Answer

Examine the author's credentials and affiliated institution

Answer

Ignore the overall tone and style of the website

Answer

Trust only websites with a ".edu" or ".org" domain

Question 41

Which of the following is a potential limitation of using Wikipedia as a research tool?

Accepted Answer

Crowdsourced and susceptible to editing by anyone

Answer

Contains only articles written by experts and scholars

Answer

Always provides the most up-to-date research findings

Answer

Covers all literary topics comprehensively

Question 42

When citing sources in an academic paper, it is essential to:

Accepted Answer

Maintain consistency in the citation style throughout the paper

Answer

Omit the author's name when citing a source

Answer

Use different citation styles for different source types

Answer

Cite only sources that are directly quoted

Question 43

When evaluating the relevance of a source, it is important to consider:

Accepted Answer

Its scope, focus, and alignment with the research topic

Answer

The number of pages

Answer

The author's institutional affiliation

Answer

The date of publication

Question 44

Which of the following sources is considered the most reliable for academic research?

Accepted Answer

Peer-reviewed journal article

Answer

Blog post

Answer

Website without an author

Answer

Newspaper article

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a factor to consider when evaluating the relevance of a source?

Accepted Answer

Length of the source

Answer

Date of publication

Answer

Author's credentials

Answer

Topic of the source

Question 46

What is the purpose of employing Boolean operators in a database search?

Accepted Answer

To combine search terms and refine results

Answer

To search for exact phrases

Answer

To search for synonyms

Answer

To exclude terms from the search

Question 47

What is a distinctive characteristic of a peer-reviewed journal article?

Accepted Answer

It undergoes rigorous evaluation by experts in the field before publication

Answer

It is published in a popular magazine

Answer

It is written by a renowned author

Question 48

What is the fundamental distinction between a primary and a secondary source?

Accepted Answer

A primary source provides firsthand information, while a secondary source interprets or analyzes primary sources

Answer

A primary source is more recent than a secondary source

Question 49

What is the primary function of the reference list in a research paper?

Accepted Answer

To document the sources used in the paper and provide readers with the necessary information to access them

Answer

To summarize the main arguments of the paper

Answer

To introduce the topic of the paper

Question 50

Is there a recommended number of sources to use for a research paper in literary studies?

Accepted Answer

The number of sources depends on the complexity of the topic, the length of the paper, and the specific requirements of the assignment

Answer

5-10 sources

Answer

10-15 sources