Types of Information Sources
What are some information sources you can use when you conduct academic research?
Let’s look at different types of information
sources
Encyclopedias• Encyclopedias are
great places to begin your research.
• There are two types of encyclopedias: general & specialized.
General Encyclopedias
Specialized Encyclopedias• Specialized
encyclopedias focus on specific subject areas.
• For example, American Environmental History or American Political History
Use them to . . .
• provide a concise overview of a topic• provide background information• learn language & terminology of subject
area• learn about significant dates and names of
important people
How do you find them?• Polaris • E-books
• In some of the library's databases for electronic reference books such as Gale Virtual Reference Library and Sage Reference.
Wikipedia!• Is an encyclopedia that
is open for all to add information. Some people add credible information some people add undocumented information.
• Great for finding background information
Books and E-books• Lightner Library has
books on virtually any topic
• Books can synthesize all the information on a topic to help support a particular argument or thesis.
Use them to . . . • Find lots of information on a topic• put your topic in context with other
important issues• find historical information• find summaries of research to support an
argument
Where do you find them?
Magazines• Also called popular
periodicals• They are published
on an ongoing basis such as weekly or monthly
• They contain articles on popular culture and current events.
Use them to . . . • find information on current events and
popular culture• find articles whose content is intended for
general readers who are not experts on a topic
Where do you find them?• Browse the periodical
section in Lightner Library
• Search the library databases such as EBSCOHost and Proquest.
Scholarly Journals• A journal is a
collection of articles written by experts in an academic or professional field.
• Scholarly journals are also called peer-reviewed or academic.
Use them to . . . • do scholarly research• find primary research• find out what has been studied on your
topic• find factual, documented information• find bibliographies that point you to other
relevant research
Where do you find them?
Newspapers • Newspapers are also
popular periodicals.• Newspapers provide
articles about current events. Most are published daily.
• Many newspapers also have websites – these websites are the best for finding breaking news.
Where do you find them?• Lightner library subscribes to many print
newspapers • Lightner library’s online databases such as
ProQuest, EBSCOHost and LexisNexis.• Newspaper web sites often provide free
online access to some or all of the content.
Websites• Websites can be both a tool and a source.
• As a tool, some websites provide access to other types of information. The library's website, for example, is such a website.
• As a source, websites are varied and numerous.