Identifying Resources

Reading Citations

A "Citation" (or bibliographic record) contains information about a document, telling us the author, title, source, and date. A "Bibliography" or "References" list is a collection of these citations, usually found at the end of academic works.

Citations lead us to a wide range of materials—from books, articles, and theses to scores, images, and videos. Because citations follow specific patterns, you can quickly identify the resource type and choose the best way to retrieve it.

Pro Tip: Different fields use different rules for citations, known as Citation Styles (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Which one you use depends on your department's requirements or your professor's preference.

Books

Includes [Author], [Title], [Year], [Location], and [Publisher].

Example: Abbing, H. (2002). Why are artists poor? The exceptional economy of the arts. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.

Book Chapters

Includes [Author], [Chapter Title], [Book Title], and [Page Numbers].

Example: Abbing, Hans. “Economic Value Versus Aesthetic Value: Is There Any Financial Reward for Quality?” Why Are Artists Poor?: The Exceptional Economy of the Arts, Amsterdam University Press, 2002, pp. 52–77.

Journal Articles

Includes [Author], [Article Title], [Journal Name], [Volume(v)], and [Issue(n)].

Example: Schechner, Richard. “Performance Studies: The Broad Spectrum Approach.” TDR 32, no. 3 (1988): 4–6.

Conference Papers

Look for keywords: [Conference Name], [Proceedings], [Symposium], or [Seminar].

Ma, Ya-chen. (2011, December 15-16). From Personal Accomplishment to Imperial Military Achievement: The Transformation of Qianlong Battle Images. International Symposium on Visual Culture in the Era of Emperor Qianlong, National Taiwan University, Taipei.

Theses & Dissertations

Look for: [Thesis/Dissertation], [University], and [Degree Year].

Park, Seojin (2024). The Cultural Production of Post-Alternative Spaces in Taiwan: Social-Aesthetic Significance of The Cube Project Space, Taipei, Taiwan. Master’s thesis, TNUA, Taipei.

Research Reports

Look for: [Research Institution], [Project Number], or keywords like "Report" or "Project".

D. M. Lee (2001). Development of Value-Added Application on Video Archive (Report No. NSC90-2750-H119-230). National Science Council.

News & Newspapers

Includes [Specific Date], [Article Title], [Newspaper Name], and [Edition/Page/URL].

Dargis, M. (2026, February 6). ‘Queen of Chess’ Review: A Grandmaster of Her Own Making. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/movies/queen-of-chess-review.html

Music Scores

Often looks like a book citation but includes [Composer] and [Musical Work Title].

Example: Debussy, C. (1988). La fille aux cheveux de lin. In Universal Violin album III. Universal Edition. Retrieved from Music Online: Classical Scores Library, Volume I database. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/

Visual Images

Includes [Creator], [Image Title], and [Medium/Format].

Example: Van Gogh, Vincent (1885). Potato-Eaters. [painting]. Retrieved from https://library.artstor.org/asset/LESSING_ART_1039902167

Videos & Films

Includes [Producer], [Director], [Year], [Film Title], and [Format].

Example: Yu, W. Y. (Producer), & Yang, E. (Director). (1991). A Brighter Summer Day [Blu-ray]. Taipei: Yang De Chang Co., Ltd.

Music Recordings

Includes [Performer/Composer], [Album Title], and [Label].

Example: Borrowdale, Torin (2018). Searching. On Searching: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [CD]. Sony Classical. New York: Sony Classical.

Evaluating Your Resources

Before using a resource, cross-check these four factors to ensure its credibility and relevance:

Source: Evaluate the reputation of the platform or publisher. Is it peer-reviewed or a scholarly source?
Currency: Check the publication date and update frequency. Is the information up-to-date and relevant to your topic?
Authority: Assess the author’s credentials, expertise, and institutional affiliation.
Accuracy & Logic: Examine the content for logical consistency, objectivity, and supporting evidence or citations.

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