RCE2601
ASSIGNMENT 2 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 13 JUNE 2025
, RCE2601: Assignment 2
Case Study 1: Evaluating Sources for a Literature Review
Task 1: Source Evaluation (40 Marks)
1. Prioritising Sources
When Sarah builds her literature review on AI’s impact in higher education, she should
lean heavily on:
Peer-reviewed journal article: This is the strongest source. Articles in reputable
academic journals go through rigorous review by experts before publication.
Their methods and conclusions are scrutinised, which means the findings are
reliable and citable.
Government report: Often produced by specialist departments or agencies,
government reports are written by professionals with access to up-to-date data.
They tend to follow strict editorial standards and can offer valuable statistics or
policy analyses.
2. Justifying Exclusion or Limited Use
Wikipedia page: While Wikipedia is convenient for an initial overview or finding
keywords, its open-edit nature means entries can change and may not always be
accurate. It lacks formal peer review. Sarah could use it to spot key authors or
terms, but she should not cite Wikipedia directly.
Technology enthusiast’s blog post: A blog may offer interesting opinions or
emerging trends, but the author’s expertise and the editorial process are unclear.
Without evidence of peer review or editorial standards, a blog is too informal for a
serious literature review. If Sarah finds a striking example there, she should trace
it back to a primary source before citing.
3. How Each Source Contributes
ASSIGNMENT 2 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 13 JUNE 2025
, RCE2601: Assignment 2
Case Study 1: Evaluating Sources for a Literature Review
Task 1: Source Evaluation (40 Marks)
1. Prioritising Sources
When Sarah builds her literature review on AI’s impact in higher education, she should
lean heavily on:
Peer-reviewed journal article: This is the strongest source. Articles in reputable
academic journals go through rigorous review by experts before publication.
Their methods and conclusions are scrutinised, which means the findings are
reliable and citable.
Government report: Often produced by specialist departments or agencies,
government reports are written by professionals with access to up-to-date data.
They tend to follow strict editorial standards and can offer valuable statistics or
policy analyses.
2. Justifying Exclusion or Limited Use
Wikipedia page: While Wikipedia is convenient for an initial overview or finding
keywords, its open-edit nature means entries can change and may not always be
accurate. It lacks formal peer review. Sarah could use it to spot key authors or
terms, but she should not cite Wikipedia directly.
Technology enthusiast’s blog post: A blog may offer interesting opinions or
emerging trends, but the author’s expertise and the editorial process are unclear.
Without evidence of peer review or editorial standards, a blog is too informal for a
serious literature review. If Sarah finds a striking example there, she should trace
it back to a primary source before citing.
3. How Each Source Contributes
