Often, books are a good source for a thorough investigation of a topic. In some shapes this is easier to extract than others. Some of the information published by government offices is technical and scientific. An example of a government report would be any of the reports the U.S. Census Bureau publishes from census data. Secondary sources describe, discuss, interpret, comment upon, analyze, evaluate, summarize, and process primary sources. A secondary source is generally one or more steps removed from the event or time period and are written or produced after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. Scholarly, peer-reviewed articles or books -written by researchers for students and researchers. General encyclopedias contain concise overviews on a wide variety of topics. Different sources for different purposes You may encounter many different types of sources as you begin to research your assignment. This means that scholars in the same field review the research and findings before the article is published. Proceedings are sometimes peer-reviewed and are often the first publication of research that later appears in a scholarly publication (see above!). Not all sources are equal, though. Types of Reliable Sources A reliable source is one that provides a thorough, well-reasoned theory, argument, discussion, etc. For a side-by-side comparison check out our Quick Reference chart (from University of British Colombia Libraries).There are many occasions on which reading articles from popular sources can help to introduce you to a topic and introduce you to how that topic is being discussed in society. Types of Secondary Sources Examples Books popular history books, textbooks, academic works, and printed theses Academic Journal articles scholarly research undertaken by university academics is published in academic journals, which can be found via JSTOR or Google Scholar. based on strong evidence. Check out the typical components of a scholarly journal article (from North Carolina State University Libraries). Theses and dissertations are the result of an individual student's research while in a graduate program. Types of Sources Encyclopedias. are written by practitioners in a field (nurses, teachers, social workers, etc)rarely have a bibliography - rather, they are fact-checked through the editorial process of the publication they appear ininclude a full bibliography of sources cited in the articlewritten in a language that is easy to understand by the general publicdon't assume prior knowledge of a subject area - for this reason, they are often very helpful to read if you don't know a lot about your subject area yetare written by and for faculty, researchers, or other experts in a fieldThere are key differences between scholarly, popular and professional publications. The primary audience of these articles is other experts. The Government Printing Office disseminates information issued by all three branches of the government to federal depository libraries (including NMSU). Articles in scholarly publications, in most cases:Conference proceedings are compilations of papers, research, and information presented at conferences. Each shape of data may hold much value to the business. They are written under the guidance and review of an academic committee but are not considered "peer-reviewed" or "refereed" publications. Encyclopedias contain short, factual entries by contributors with expertise on the topic. Rather, they communicated the news and trends in that field. Many of these publications are "peer reviewed" or "refereed". Other information is meant for the general public. Unlike a scholarly article, which will usually focus on the results of one research project, a book isilikely to include an overview of research or issues related to its topic. Trade publications are generally for practitioners. Data manifests itself in many different shapes. Types of sources . Some light from these sources reaches the earth. Subject Terms for Types of Primary Sources You can enhance your searches in Library Catalog Search by using subject terms that describe materials by format. Proceedings are more commonly encountered (via databases and other searching) in science and engineering fields that in the arts and humanities. They are focused on a specific field but are not intended to be "scholarly". There are key differences between … Articles in trade publications, in most cases:These are sources that you are likely to encounter when doing academic research.are written by journalists or professional writers for a general audiencemay contain an argument, opinion, or analysis of an issueTo see the typical components of a scholarly journal article check out the Many academic books will be edited by an expert or group of experts. Types of sources - Quick Reference Chart. Except where otherwise noted, this work is subject to a https://guides.lib.umich.edu/archivesandmanuscripts Each kind of source has its place in expanding your knowledge and understanding of a topic. Additionally, the many departments of the government publish reports, data, statistics, white papers, consumer information, transcripts of hearings, and more. Articles in popular sources, in most cases:A scholarly publication contains articles written by experts in a particular field. Sources that are even further removed (e.g., because they synthesize and describe material from secondary sources) are called Accounts that describe events, people, or ideas: Secondary Sources. Types of Sources - Some Useful Tools Anatomy of a Scholarly Article. use the language (and jargon) of the fieldCheck out the typical components of a scholarly journal article (from North Carolina State University Libraries).Understanding & Evaluating Sources For example, if you enter your topic as a keyword in advanced search, you can also add subject terms that will specify a type of material related to that topic. These types of documents can be excellent sources of information due to their regularity, dependability, and thoroughness.