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How To Do Secondary Research or a Literature Review

Step-by-step guide to forming keywords and searching for articles for a literature review.

Vertical Reading

One common technique for evaluating information source is known as vertical reading. In this technique you carefully read your source "from top to bottom," paying special attention to things like::

  • The author's experience in the specific topic
  • How respected the publication is
  • How recent and relevant the information is
  • Any possible biases

While this approach works with some source, it is not effective in rooting out deliberate misinformation. These sources use sophisticated techniques to defeat vertical reading.

Identifying Misinformation: The Power of Lateral Reading

Lateral reading means leaving the original source to check its claims elsewhere. It's more efficient than traditional vertical reading and better at identifying misinformation.

How to Do Lateral Reading:

Open new tabs: When you see a claim or unfamiliar source, open new browser tabs right away.

Check the source: Look up what reputable sites say about the source.

Verify claims: Search for the main points on trusted news sites or academic databases.

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