Sources of Information

Question 1

There are firsthand accounts and reports written by the researcher such as diaries, correspondences, autobiographies, interviews, speeches, statistical data, field notes, videos and audio recordings, and original research papers that report the purpose, method and results of the study.

Answer 1

Primary Sources

Question 2

These are papers or documents that summarize, discuss and interpret the original works of others, usually based on primary sources. Examples are journal article that summarize or report other researchers’ work and commentaries.

Answer 2

Secondary Sources

Question 3

There are works that summarize and critically evaluate primary and secondary sources. Examples are critical review of all randomized clinical trials on a specific subject, a meta-analysis, practice guidelines or papers that support evidence-based medicine on a clinical topic. Some would consider textbooks as secondary sources while others would consider them as tertiary sources.

Answer 3

Tertiary Sources

Question 4

• Offer insider view
• Provide firsthand experience

Answer 4

Primary

Question 5

• Likely to have less biased perspective
• Summary of multiple sources and
  perspectives around certain aspects of
  the topic
• Provide a focused analysis of the
  subject of interest
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• Use it to answer “How do I do this” type of queries.

Answer 5

Secondary

Question 6

“refers to how different forms of media process an event over time” (Vancouver Island University Library).

Answer 6

Information cycle

Question 7

Articles written on a range of topics that provide an overview, outlining the topic’s main components and themes

Answer 7

Encyclopedias

Question 8

Single volume, comprehensive compendiums of information on a particular topic

Answer 8

Handbooks and Manuals

Question 9

a search strategy that allows you to perform a comprehensive or thorough search. It is a simple and straightforward way of finding all available information. A classic example would be the Google search box.

Answer 9

Simple search

Question 10

a search strategy that allows you to specify or target your search based on your need. It is best to use when you want to limit the search results based on your pre-defined conditions, saving you time and effort from weaving through a volume of information that you may not need.

Answer 10

Advanced search

Question 11

search strategy that allows you to combine search terms using Boolean operators to pull precise information and leave out the irrelevant ones. It is best to use Boolean search if you already know what you want to include and what to exclude in your search. Similar to Advanced search, Boolean search saves you time and effort from unnecessarily pulling information that is out of the scope of your research topic

Answer 11

Boolean search