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.