Recent data supported by media report, not by peer-reviewed article? In the letter of intent for the dissertation proposal, the student reports data about the number of minority hires for x-number of program positions in the upcoming season. The source for the data is a sports newscast from February 2020; the season starts in September 2020.
The chair wanted a peer-reviewed article (not the newscast) for this data.
We (the student and I) have been unsuccessful in finding peer-reviewed articles for this data. Presumably (because we can't think of any other reason), such an article or article is elusive because the hiring event is so recent.
The recent data is truly relevant to the study.
What is an acceptable way for this dilemma to be reconciled? Initial thoughts are to cite more than one news source.
Note: This is a no-hurt feelings zone. If the question needs to be rephrased to comply with stackexchange guidelines, then ok. And if that is the case, then please give guidance.
There are cases of course where a non-peer reviewed source is the authoritative source for a particular piece of information. I'd do my level best to track down if they have the raw data (including requesting it) but personally, if that's the best source available, it's the best source available.
I'd consider that preferable to ignoring data that exists in the world because it's from the &quot;wrong sort of people&quot;.