Original Post by Danette Jewell:

When writing a research paper, I mostly use peer-reviewed journals that I find through the DU library. I often try to use journals that have been published in the last 5 years so the information is relevant and accurate. JSTOR and Science Direct are common databases that I use. I also tend to search for articles through the journal Nature’s website because a lot of their publishings are relevant to the EPM program. I will occasionally use articles published by universities such as Yale Climate Connection or Harvard Business Review which are often reviewing the data of studies. It’s easy to access the study they are referring to and make sure that it is peer-reviewed and relevant. I also try to make sure that the articles I read have been published recently. With sustainability issues, information can change quickly so I think it’s important to try to find recent articles and journals when possible.

Several of my research projects have focused on climate change or other sustainability issues so I have also used data from organizations that are actively doing research on those issues such as NOAA, NASA, and the IPCC. I have also used data provided by some branches of government such as the EPA and EIA along with studies completed by other universities.

My Comment:

Hi Danette,

Great point that Yale Climate Connection or Harvard Business Review are reputable as they are reviewing the data of studies. It is important to remember that a strong argument is grounded in data. The most powerful information we can get from even reputable sources is statistics. Your post also brings into consideration that providing the context of how a certain statistic was derived by explaining the story of its study is a great tactic to persuade an audience. It gives the audience the opportunity to understand not only where the writer gets the information but how the writer forms logical conclusions.