![A polished analysis built on public domain data is a house of cards. It may look impressive—until a single question exposes the weakness of the sources. Defensible, premium evidence provides the solid foundation that withstands scrutiny. [Image: Copilot]](/images/Images/public-domain-v-premium-data600.png "A polished analysis built on public domain data is a house of cards. It may look impressive—until a single question exposes the weakness of the sources. Defensible, premium evidence provides the solid foundation that withstands scrutiny. [Image: Copilot]")
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Research expectations are clear
To meet professional and graduate‑level standards, your research practices should align with the following expectations:
- Course resources: Anchor definitions, frameworks, and models in course materials.
- Premium research databases: Conduct company, industry, market, and competitive research primarily through the university library’s premium research databases. Tap the publications databases to find the industry journals for solid secondary data.
- Filtered public domain resources: Use public search engines and AI tools deliberately and critically—for early exploration, hypothesis generation, or triangulation. Filter results rigorously using the CRAAP Test. Never use the public domain information as your primary evidence; it can support but shouldn't replace the premium resources you paid for with your tuition.