Sources of Information Flashcards
Types of Sources
- Primary sources
- Secondary sources
- Tertiary sources
Firsthand accounts and reports written by the researchers who conducted the studies
Primary sources
Summaries, discussions, and interpretations of primary sources
Secondary sources
Offer insider view
Primary sources
Summaries and critical
evaluation of primary
and secondary sources
Tertiary sources
Likely to have less biased
perspective
Secondary sources
Provide a focused analysis
of the subject of interest
Secondary sources
Provide an introduction to the main leaders, main theories and big ideas in the field
Tertiary sources
Holistic
Tertiary sources
Harder to obtain
Primary
May be biased (focused on
the perspective of the
researcher)
Primary
Authors do not have firsthand experience with a particular
research
Secondary
Lack firsthand experience with
a particular research
Tertiary
Less in-depth description of
each individual study
Tertiary
“refers to how different forms of media process an event over time”
Information cycle
Articles written on a range of topics that provide an overview, outlining the topic’s main components and themes
Encyclopedia
Single volume, comprehensive
compendiums of information on a
particular topic
Handbooks and manuals
Books prepared specifically with a teaching
function
Teaching texts or textbooks
Latest research findings and ideas to fellow researchers and practitioners
Journal articles
Papers presented at meetings of
researches in a particular field of study
Conference papers
Reports of original research conducted by people working for a recognized academic qualification
Theses and dissertations
