Review of appropriate research sources, includes primary/secondary/tertiary and popular/scholarly

1. Appropriate Sources
Athens State University Library

2. Types of Information
• Factual: proven, consistent, reliable
• Analytical: interpretation based on facts
• Subjective: presents a particular viewpoint
• Objective: aspires to synthesize multiple viewpoints to present a
complete picture

3. Research Sources based on Publication Cycle
Timing Format Definitions Example
Primary Primary sources tend
to come first in the
publication cycle.
Often newspapers,
weekly and monthly-
produced magazines;
letters, diaries.
Sources that contain
raw, original, non
interpreted and
unevaluated
information.
Newspaper articles,
weekly news
magazines, monthly
magazines, diaries,
correspondence,
diplomatic records.
Secondary Secondary sources
tend to come second in
the publication cycle.
Often scholarly
periodicals and books.
(Professors like these.)
Sources that digest,
analyze, evaluate and
interpret the
information contained
within primary sources.
They tend to be
argumentative.
Articles in scholarly
journals analyzing the
war, possibly
footnoting primary
documents; books
analyzing the war.
Tertiary Tertiary sources tend
to come last in the
publication cycle.
Often reference books. Sources that compile,
analyze, and digest
secondary sources.
They tend to be
factual.
Historical Dictionary of
Vietnam; The Vietnam
War, An Almanac

4. Primary Sources
• written by someone present or the “original” work in questions
• Diaries
• Autobiographies
• Correspondence
• Memoirs
• Original work
• Piece of art (painting, sculpture, song, etc)
• Researcher’s findings/results

5. Secondary Sources
• Not firsthand
• Offer interpretation, analysis, commentary, explanation based on
primary sources
• Most source material is secondary

6. Tertiary Sources
• Twice removed from primary sources
• Summaries or overviews based on secondary sources
• Examples: encyclopedias, textbooks

7. Popular vs. Scholarly
Overall
Appearance
Audience Authors Documentation Purpose Acceptance Procedure
Popular
Magazine
Glossy paper,
advertisement,
heavily
illustrated,
attractive in
appearance
General
Public
Reporters Sources
sometimes cited
for news
articles, but
rarely
Provide
general
information
Articles written by
hired reporters, edited
by magazine editors,
and published
Scholarly
Journal
Sober and
serious, may
contain graphs
or charts, will
not find glossy
pages or
photographs
Scholars and
students
Scholars in
the field
Cite sources in
footnotes or
bibliography
Report on
original
research or
experiment
ation
Often undergo a "peer-
reviewed" process --
reviewed by other
scholars in the field
before being published.
Sometimes these
journals are
called "refereed
journals"

8. Qualitative vs. Quantitative
Qualitative
• Narrative
• Why, How
• Analyze, synthesize, & evaluate
• Explain & understand
Quantative
• Numbers
• Who, what, where, when
• Measurement of variables
• Statistical analysis
• Generalize to greater