When do we need to cite the original source? Descriptive Transcript

Audio Visual
Have you ever found a source that talks about another source and wondered which one to cite? This tutorial will cover why and when it's important to cite original sources, and how to find them. When do we need to cite the original source? Title Slide
Imagine we use Scholar OneSearch (the library catalog) to find this news article titled "Rutgers Study Unveils New Carbon Mitigation Solutions to Combat Climate Change." This news article was issued by Rutgers to publicize a new study, and includes a brief summary of the study's findings. It seems like the study supports the point you're trying to make in your project. So is it okay to just cite the article? The best practice is to find and cite the study itself. But why is it important to use the original source? In order to make sure the study is legitimate, and that what the news article says about it is accurate. It's also important to give credit where credit is due. If we're citing information that was originally published in the study, the authors of the study should be given the credit for their work.

Screenshot of the article "Rutgers Study Unveils New Carbon Mitigation Solutions to Combat Climate Change" in ProQuest.

Slide: Why is it important to use the original source?
It's important to use the original source when: the information you're using was originally published there, like in the example we just looked at. When you're not sure whether the source that's describing the original is credible or not; maybe the source isn't recognized in your field or seems controversial. When the info seems extreme or too good to be true, which can be a sign of bias. And when the source is lacking context. For example, a news article might have used a quote or data out of context. In any of those situations, it's best to find and evaluate the original source before you use the information. Slide: When do we need to use the original source?
But what if you search the web and can't find the original source? Here are some other options for where to search: The library catalog, called Scholar OneSearch at library.northeastern.edu, because the library may have a subscription to the source you need. You can also try google scholar: scholar.google.com. Internet Archive's Wayback Machine at archive.org which archives past versions of websites in case your sources web page has changed or been taken down. For technical reports, try Technical Reports Archive And Image Library at technicalreports.org. And finally, you can always ask a librarian. Slide: How do I find the original search? If I can't find it on the web, where should I search?
There are some times that it's okay to not use the original. If you're citing a conclusion or claim being made in the other source. For example, if our example news article said something like "the Rutgers study sets a good example for other universities," that is an idea offered by the author of the article. So you would cite the news article. And, when you can't find the original source. If you've made a good faith effort to find the original source and it's simply not available, you can cite the source you do have and explicitly reference the original source in your writing so that the information is clearly attributed, For example, "In the study 'Ecosystem Services by scholars at Rutgers, as cited in a news article published by Target Newswire....' Slide: Is it ever ok NOT to use the original source?
What about Wikipedia? The general rule is that Wikipedia articles should not be cited, mainly because it's not the original source. Also, because Wikipedia is crowdsourced, the information isn't reviewed and quality checked the same way it is by many more authoritative sources. That said, a good Wikipedia article will cite its own sources, like in this example page on sustainable agriculture. If you hover over or click on the citation, you can follow the link to the original source so that you can evaluate it yourself. Usually there is also a list of references with links at the bottom of the page. What about Wikipedia? Wikipedia article: Sustainable Agriculture screenshot highlighting a citation.
In summary, it's important to find and cite original sources to make sure the information you're using is credible and accurate, and to attribute credit to the right authors. Find the original source when: the info you're using was originally published there; the other source's credibility is questionable; or context is lacking. If you can't find the original source on the web, try searching in other sources recommended by the library. And you don't need to cite the original source when the info you're citing is from a different source, or if you really can't find it. Instead of citing Wikipedia articles, follow the citation links to the original sources. Slide: Takeaways
Need help? Ask a librarian at library.northeastern.edu/ask Closing Slide: Ask a Librarian library.northeastern.edu/ask