There are many types of information and information sources. Usually, the nature of your project and topic will help determine what sources will be the most appropriate for your research. Good research usually contains a variety of sources such as books, journal articles, and statistics. Understanding different types of information and information sources can help you be a more effective researcher. Below are some common information sources and what they are used for.
Reference
Reference resources are designed to be consulted as needed rather than read cover to cover. Usually, reference sources are used to gain a firmer grasp or overview of a topic and provide references for more in-depth coverage. They also often contain things like data, statistics, and biographical information. Reference resources can be found in both print and electronic format.
Examples: dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, handbooks.
Databases
Library databases contain sets of information that are organized for the purposes of searching and retrieval. Databases can range in coverage. Some databases provide information on a wide variety of topics; others are limited to a certain subject area. Databases are a great way to find magazine and journal articles on a particular topic. They can also contain things like eBooks, reference sources and videos.
Examples: Academic Search Complete, Credo Reference, Lexis Nexis, JSTOR
Academic Journals
Similar to magazines, journals contain articles written on a variety of topics in a subject field. Unlike magazine articles, journal articles are authored by experts, scholars, and professionals. Most academic journals require articles to undergo the “peer-review” process. In this process, articles are reviewed by scholars and experts to ensure they meet certain academic standards.
Examples: Journal of American History, Harvard Theological Review
Books
Books are great sources of information for research and can be found in both print and electronic format. Books range considerably in audience and depth of topic treatment. Some books are written for a general adult audience. Others are more scholarly and are written for students, professionals, and other experts in a subject area.
Examples: Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition
News
News can come from a variety of print and electronic sources such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and the web. News articles are written to inform the general public of current events at either the local, national, or international level. Usually, journalists write and produce news. News can range from brief and informative to in-depth and investigative.
Examples: The New York Times Newspaper, National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition”, CBS “60 Minutes” TV program.
Magazines
Magazines are composed of articles written on topics of popular interest and current events. The intended audience is usually the general public. While scholars do write articles for magazines, journalists are more commonly the authors. Magazines can be good sources of information, but it is important to remember that their purpose is not scholarly or academic.
Examples: Time, Newsweek, National Geographic
Websites:
The internet allows users to find and access information from a variety of sources. While websites may be used for research, their usefulness can be limited. For academic research, information retrieved from the internet should be used alongside other academic resources. Because anyone can put information on the internet, information found on the web should be scrutinized to make sure that it is credible and reliable. Pay attention to the individual or organization that creates or produces the content of a webpage. Websites with a .edu, .org, or .gov address are higher quality and more trustworthy. It is also a good idea to verify information through multiple sources.
Examples: Wikipedia.org, epa.gov, utexas.edu