This document provides an overview of different types of information sources for research, including their characteristics and how to evaluate them. It discusses primary and secondary sources, as well as books, periodicals, the internet, and other sources like statistics, experts, and multimedia. Examples are provided for different source types. The document also covers evaluating sources and provides guidance on choosing the best source for a given topic or question.

1. INFORMATION SOURCES
CSU 1022
Fall 2012
Erin L. Nagel

2. LIBRARY RESEARCH
 What do I want to know?
 Define an information need and develop a
strategy
 Where do I find it?
 Know where to look
 How do I know if it’s right for me?
 Evaluate information before you use it

3. INFORMATION SOURCES
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Books
Periodicals
Internet
Other

4. TYPES OF INFORMATION SOURCES
Primary Sources Secondary Sources
 Closest to actual  Removed from
event, person, etc. primary source
in question.  Interpretations, rest
 Original, unedited atements, reflection
thoughts and s
observations  Easier to access
 May be more
difficult to obtain

5. EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION SOURCES
Primary Sources Secondary Sources
 Memoirs  Books
 Diaries  Encyclopedias
 Letters  Textbooks
 Photographs  Magazine articles
 E-mails
 Artifacts
 Fiction

6. LOOK AT:
DATES, TYPE OF RESOURCE, & AUTHOR
Primary Source Secondary Source
Civil War Diary Marching to Appomatox
(electronic resource) (book)
Author: Author:
Lt. Cornelius C. Platter Ken Stark, author/ illustrator from
Subject: Wisconsin
Subject:
Civil War
End of the US Civil War
Date:
Date:
1864-1865
2009
Find it: Find it:
Digital Library of Galileo CSU Library Juvenile collection

7. EXAMPLES:
Primary Source Secondary Source
Letter to US Bureau of Helen Keller: A life
Investigation chief (book)
(electronic resource) Author:
Author: Dorothy
Dave Gersham, Bureau of Herrmann, author/biographer
Investigation officer Subject:
Subject: Helen Keller, 1880-1968
Author’s suspicions of Helen Date:
Keller as socialist, March 1918
1998
Date:
Find it:
March 16, 1918
CSU Library Circulating collection
Find it:
US Bureau of Investigation Case
Files

8. EXAMPLES:
Primary Source Secondary Source
Newsfilm clip of African Freedom Rides
American students turned away
from using the public library in (encyclopedia entry)
Albany, Georgia Author:
(multimedia)
Edward A. Hatfield
Producer/Distributor:
WALB Subject:
Subject: Freedom Rides during 1961
African American citizens and Date:
public library
2008
Date:
1962 Find it:
Find it: New Georgia Encyclopedia
Digital Library of Georgia

10. INFORMATION SOURCES
Books
Periodicals
Internet
Other

11. BOOKS
 Classified as fiction or nonfiction
 Fiction  entertainment
 Nonfiction  factual
 Comprehensive information; expert analysis, historical
perspective
 Takes time to research, write, and publish
 Lengthy

12. REFERENCE BOOKS
 Reference books nonfiction books consulted for
authoritative information
 Encyclopedia- collection of detailed articles
 Dictionary- alphabetical listing of words
 Directory- listing of people, companies, etc.
 Almanac- compilation of statistics, figures, etc.
 Atlas- geographical and historical information
 Handbook- concise data on a subject
 May be general or subject-specific
 Use for verification and starting research

13. FIND BOOKS IN THE CSU CATALOG

14. PERIODICALS
 Published on a recurring basis
 May be in-depth, but narrowed focus
 More current information than books
 Types:
 Popular magazines & newspapers
 Professional/ trade publications
 Scholarly journals
 Look at:
◦ Author ◦ Publication frequency
◦ Advertising ◦ Article length
◦ Purpose ◦ Illustrations
◦ References ◦ Intended audience

15. PERIODICALS
 Peer-review: Process by which articles are critically
evaluated and considered for inclusion in a scholarly
journal.
 Process may be lengthy
 Conducted by experts in the field
 Original research, experiments, expert analysis
 Also called: Refereed, Scholarly, Academic

16. FIND ARTICLES IN A DATABASE

17. EXAMPLES

18. ELECTRONIC BOOK RECORD

19. ARTICLE RECORD

20. PRINT PERIODICAL RECORD

21. PRINT BOOK RECORD

22. INTERNET SOURCES
 Most current information
 Wide variety of topics
 Uneven reliability
 NOTE: Online ≠ free!
 It’s all about where you start

23. INTERNET RESOURCES
 Search engines not all created equal!
 Subject directories organized links to resources
 Online reference Reference sources
(dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.)
 Online periodicals Some are free
 Web portal may be general or subject-specific
 Professional & Trade organizations websites provide
industry news, directories, etc.

24. OTHER
 Statistics and data sets
 Experts
 Multimedia
 Government publications

25. MULTIMEDIA RESOURCE

26. STATISTICS AND DATA RESOURCES

28. YOU BE THE JUDGE!

29. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/Topic Information Source
What is the impact of drug  Encyclopedia of
use on adolescent mental Psychology
health?  Article in Psychology of
Addictive Behaviors
journal
 American Academy of
Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry website

30. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/Topic Information Source
What is the impact of drug  Encyclopedia of
use on adolescent mental Psychology
health?  Article in Psychology of
Addictive Behaviors
journal
 American Academy of
Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry website

31. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/ Topic Information Source
Which U.S. insurance  Evaluating Business
provider generated the Performance: Small
most revenue in 2011? business case studies
(book)
 Business Insights:
Essentials (online
database of company
data, history, and reports)

32. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/ Topic Information Source
Which U.S. insurance  Evaluating Business
provider generated the Performance: Small
most revenue in 2011? business case studies
(book)
 Business Insights:
Essentials (online
database of company
data, history, and reports)

33. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/Topic Information source
What is the official language  The Voice of the steppe :
of Kazakhstan? modern Kazakh short
stories (book)
 Article in Soviet & Post-
Soviet Review (periodical)
 CIA World Factbook at
www.cia.gov (online
reference)

34. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/Topic Information source
What is the official language  The Voice of the steppe :
of Kazakhstan? modern Kazakh short
stories (book)
 Article in Soviet & Post-
Soviet Review (periodical)
 CIA World Factbook at
www.cia.gov (online
reference)

35. WHERE TO GO NEXT?
In Galileo, Browse by Subject to find suggested
Databases Books
Periodicals
Other
reference

36. WHERE TO GO NEXT?
Or, Browse by Type