"Information can come from virtually anywhere — books, journal and magazine articles, expert opinions, encyclopedias, web pages, social media, blogs, and personal experiences. The type of information you need will change depending on the research question you are trying to answer" Revised from Virginia Tech University Libraries LibGuide (2017)
TYPES OF INFORMATION SOURCES (Click)
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources - From Virginia Tech University Library
When searching for information on a topic, it is important to understand the value of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.
Primary sources allow researchers to get as close as possible to original ideas, events, and empirical research as possible. Such sources may include creative works, first hand or contemporary accounts of events, and the publication of the results of empirical observations or research. We list sources for historical primary documents.
Secondary sources analyze, review, or summarize information in primary resources or other secondary resources. Even sources presenting facts or descriptions about events are secondary unless they are based on direct participation or observation. Moreover, secondary sources often rely on other secondary sources and standard disciplinary methods to reach results, and they provide the principle sources of analysis about primary sources.
Tertiary sources provide overviews of topics by synthesizing information gathered from other resources. Tertiary resources often provide data in a convenient form or provide information with context by which to interpret it.
| Criteria | Scholarly Journals | Popular Magazines |
|---|---|---|
|
Example |
 |
 |
| Author |
Usually a scholar or researcher with expertise in the subject area; Author's credentials and/or affiliation are given. |
Author's name may or may not be given; often a professional writer; may or may not have expertise in the subject area.
|
| Audience | Other scholars, researchers, and students. | General public; the interested non-specialist. |
|
Language |
Specialized terminology or jargon of the field; requires expertise in subject area (or a good specialized dictionary!). |
Vocabulary in general usage; easily understandable to most readers. |
|
Graphics
|
Graphs, charts, and tables; very few advertisements and photographs. |
Graphs, charts and tables; lots of glossy advertisements and photographs. |
|
Layout & |
Structured; generally includes the article abstract, objectives, methodology, analysis, results (evidence), discussion, conclusion, and bibliography. | Informal; may include non-standard formatting. May not present supporting evidence or a conclusion. |
|
Accountability |
Articles are evaluated by peer-reviewers or referees who are experts in the field; edited for content, format, and style. |
Articles are evaluated by editorial staff, not experts in the field; edited for format and style. |
|
References |
Always has a list of references or bibliography; sources of quotes and facts are cited and can be verified. |
Rarely has a list of references; usually does not give complete information about sources of information. |
|
Examples |
Annals of Mathematics, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, History of Education Quarterly, almost anything with Journal in the title. |
Time, Newsweek, The Nation, The Economist |
Adapted from a LibGuide by Laurel Eby at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at San Jose State University.