Sports literature research

• Blog and social media posts
• Scholarly articles
• Newspapers and magazines
• Statistics
• Video, podcasts, interviews
• Primary sources and secondary sources (example: photos)
• Professional association websites

• Who created this?
• Why are they qualified to create this?
• Why was it created?
• Who is is created for?
• Who is making money from this?
• Who published it?
• What professional journalism/publishing standards does the publisher use?
• When was it created?
• What is the point of view of the author and site? Who is left out?
• Which people or viewpoints are not included?

When you come across a source giving information that seems sensational, emotionally charged, or hard to believe, it's time to use the lateral reading strategy. Search for 2 more sources that give the same information. If you see the same information in a few trustworthy sites, you have evidence the information is true.

Use lateral reading to check the accuracy of sources that don't have editors or a history of using professional journalism and publishing standards

• Infotainment/gossip sites
• Sources that don't share information about their organization or mission
• Sources that may be funded by hidden interest groups
• Private blogs
• Social media
• YouTube videos

You can assume that publications using professional journalism/publishing standards publish accurate information:

• newspapers
• magazines
• scholarly articles
• professional association websites