Where to Find Reliable Sources for Research: A Beginner’s Guide for Content Writing

Not all information online is accurate, so knowing where to look is important.

A well-researched article or blog post relies on credible sources of data.

So, if you’re looking for strong and convincing data for writing, you’re in the right place.

In this guide, I’ve covered the sources of data and where you can find them.

Sources of data

In content writing, understanding the types of data sources helps you gather reliable and complete facts to support your points and convince your audience.

There are 2 main sources of data:

• Primary sources

• Secondary sources.

I. Primary sources

Primary sources of data provide direct, firsthand evidence or original materials that have not been interpreted or analysed.

Examples:

• Experts: Business owners, professionals, industry leaders

• Your customers/audience: Reviews and testimonials

• Companies & brands: Case studies, internal data, and success stories from businesses

• Experiments & tests: A/B testing, product comparisons, or personal trials.

Primary sources supply information that hasn’t been collected by anyone else before.

What are the methods of primary research?

Primary research methods are ways in which we collect original data from primary sources.

They include:

• Interviews

• Surveys and polls

• Case studies

• Focus groups

• Experiments

• Observations.

Note that each method has its pros and cons.

So, the method you use depends on:

• The information you’re looking for

• Your target audience

• The available resources.

II. Secondary sources

Secondary sources provide data that someone other than the original source has collected, interpreted, and published.

They include second-hand information, such as interpretations, analyses, and summaries of primary materials.

Examples:

• Books written by experts with detailed information (Example: A book on how to succeed in business)

• Journal and research papers written by researchers and experts (Example: A medical study on how sleep affects brain function)

• Website articles, reports, and blog posts published online (Example: A blog post about “Top 10 Digital Marketing Statistics for 2025”)

• Government reports and official documents with reliable facts (Example: A report on unemployment rates from the government website)

• Company reports and statistics collected by businesses and research firms (Example: A Facebook annual report or a whitepaper on how people use social media)

• News articles from journalists and reporters (Example: A Punch news article about the latest trends in artificial intelligence)

• Dictionaries and encyclopedias that define concepts and summarise different topics (Example: Looking up "History of the Internet" on Encyclopedia Britannica).

Secondary sources offer valuable analyses and insights from other researchers who have studied the topic.

What are the methods of secondary research?

Secondary research methods involve collecting and analysing data from existing sources.

They include:

• Literature review: Reading books, journals, and reports to understand a topic

• Internet research: Searching for data on websites, blogs, and research databases

• Reviewing government reports: Using official government documents for data

• Analysing industry reports: Examining reports from companies and market research firms

• Comparing news articles: Gathering information from news websites and newspapers.

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Where to find credible sources of data

To find credible data for your articles or blog posts, especially as a Nigerian content writer, here’s where to look:

1. General research and academic papers

Use them for scientific studies, research papers, and academic facts.

It’s great for backing up claims with real science or expert research.

Here are the websites

• Google Scholar

• ResearchGate

• PubMed - Medical and health research

• DOAJ - Directory of Open Access Journals

2. Government websites

You can use them for national stats, health data, education reports, and more.

Examples:

• NBS – National Bureau of Statistics

• FMH – Federal Ministry of Health

• CBN – Central Bank of Nigeria

• WHO - World Health Organisation

3. Reputable local news and data platforms

These are great for current trends, local market prices, and social/economic news.

Examples:

• Nairametrics

• BusinessDay NG

• Stears

• Techpoint Africa

4. International statistics platforms

These platforms are good for global and African data, surveys, and reports.

They include:

• Statista

• Pew Research Centre

• World Bank Data

• UN Data.

5. Industry blogs and reports

These are great for niche topics like fashion, tech, marketing, and education.

Examples for fashion include:

• Business of Fashion

• Vogue Business

Other examples include:

• Harvard Business Review - Business

• HubSpot - Marketing

• Moz - SEO

Note that each industry has its blogs and reports.

So, ensure you identify credible blogs and reports available in your industry.

6. Surveys, polls, and interviews

These sources are specifically for original data through primary research.

So, since no one has done the research, do it!

For surveys and polls:

Ask your audience questions using Google Forms or social media polls (Instagram, X, or WhatsApp).

In reporting the data, you can write: “In a small survey I ran among 50 Nigerian students, 77% said they prefer home workouts to going to the gym.”

For interviews:

You can reach out to experts on social media channels or websites to ask for their opinions on your topic.

However, before asking to interview them, search their online platforms to know whether they have already addressed such topics.

Then you can get their quotes or insights.

Remember, each industry has its experts or leaders.

Examples:

• Aproko Doctor - Health

• Aliko Dangote - Business

• Financial Jennifer - Personal finance

• Veekee James - Fashion

7. Books and ebooks by experts

Search Amazon or OkadaBooks for books by credible authors on your topic.

8. Reputable news organisations

These are established news outlets with a track record of accuracy and fairness.

Examples:

• Arise TV

• The Nation

• Punch.

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3 factors to consider before using your data

Before using your data, ensure it is:

• Credible

• Verifiable

• Relevant.

1. Credible data

Credible data comes from a trustworthy, reliable, and authoritative entity.

Credible data is:

• Based on thorough research

• Written by trusted experts or authorities

• Peer-reviewed and accurate.

This helps to ensure the data is unbiased.

2. Verifiable data

Verifiable data can be confirmed.

That is, the accuracy of the data can be:

• Checked

• Validated

• Or proven.

This helps prevent errors or misinformation.

Here’s a list of tools for fact-checking information.

3. Relevant data

Your data might be credible and verifiable. But is it relevant to the point?

• Relevant data must be:

• Timely: Up-to-date and current

• Pertinent: Directly relates to the topic

• Applicable: Useful and valuable.

Bottom line

Knowing where to find credible sources is important for effective content writing.

By using reliable platforms for research, you ensure your information is accurate.

Always verify that your data is credible, verifiable, and relevant to build trust with your audience.

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