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Library Resource Guide: Students

A resource guide with information about general library resources, materials and partners for all students. For specific subject or format materials consult course, subject and topic guides.

Step 5: Looking at Different Perspectives on your Topic

Pro Con icon   Step 5: Look at different perspectives on your topic

  • At this point you've probably formed your own thoughts about your topic and you have the sources to support it.
  • Next, look for sources that show another perspective.
    • This is a hugely important step!
      • Knowing and understanding other perspectives
        • Provides the complete picture of the issue.
        • Avoids confirmation bias and demonstrates objectivity about the issue
        • Ensures you understand your perspective is not the only one. Confirmation bias
        • Shows the validity of your own beliefs
        • Shows you understand why others may have different ideas

Sources to investigate different perspectives are:

Britannica Pro-Con - “To promote civility, critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting the pro and con arguments to debatable issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, freely accessible way.”-- A non-biased information source for includes well-researched pros and cons of debatable issues, along with reference information relevant to those issues. The pro and con format makes it easier to see the difference in the facts and arguments. It creates “beneficial confusion,” causing readers to struggle with well-presented opposing positions, and, therefore, to engage in evaluative thinking to formulate their own views. Readers who have a pre-existing view of an issue may feel more confident in their view, or they may change their view. In either case, many will recognize that the process of acquiring and critically evaluating information has a beneficial and satisfying effect on their decision-making.

Global Issues This United Nations website provides information on global issues with links to other resources, where you can get additional information.

New York Times: Room for Debate - In Room for Debate, The Times invites knowledgeable outside contributors to discuss news events and other timely issues. Reader comments are moderated Monday through Friday.

Pew Research Center: U.S. Politics & Policy - Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research