Researching From Multiple Sources

When you have a research question, one source is often not enough. You need to look at two or more sources and compare what they say. This helps you find the best answer and make sure your facts are correct. This lesson builds on gathering information from sources by showing you exactly how to line up facts from different places and use them together.

Before you open a single book or website, write down the question you want to answer. A question like "What do pandas eat?" gives you a clear target. Every source you check should help you answer that exact question, not just give random facts about pandas.

Pick at least two sources about your topic. This could be two books, a book and a website, or a website and a magazine article. As you read each one, write down the facts that answer your question. Keep the facts from each source in a separate list so you can see where they came from.

For example, if you are researching "What do pandas eat?" your first source might say pandas eat mostly bamboo. Your second source might say pandas eat bamboo and sometimes small animals. Now you have two lists to compare.

Once you have facts from each source, put them side by side. Ask yourself: do the sources agree, or do they say different things? Comparing facts this way helps you see the whole picture instead of trusting just one place.

If both sources say the same thing, you can feel good about using that fact. When two sources agree, the fact is more likely to be true. In the panda example, both sources agree that bamboo is the main food, so this is a strong, safe fact to use in your project.

Sometimes sources tell different stories. Maybe one source says something the other one does not mention at all, or the two sources give completely different answers. When this happens, do not just pick one at random. Look for a third source to help you decide, or check if one source is newer or written by an expert. Learning to evaluate and cite your sources will help you decide which facts to trust most.

After comparing your sources, write your answer to the research question using your own words. Include the facts that both sources agree on, and mention any extra facts that seemed true and useful. This gives your reader a full, accurate answer built from more than one place.

Source: A place where you get information, like a book, website, or magazine.

Research question: The question you are trying to answer with your facts.

Compare: To look at two things and see how they are the same or different.

Agree: When two sources say the same fact.

Disagree: When two sources say different or opposite facts.

Fact: A true piece of information that can be checked and proven.

Pick a simple question, like "How tall does a sunflower grow?" Find two sources and write down what each one says. Draw a table like the one above and mark which facts match and which are different. Then write one sentence that answers your question using the facts you trust most.

Related lessons

• Gathering Information From Sources