Serving the Community College of Vermont & Vermont State University
Serving the Community College of Vermont & Vermont State University
Information can come from a variety of sources - media, blogs, books, journals, magazine articles, and expert opinions - but choosing the right sources depends on the question you're trying to answer. Before jumping into your search, reflect on the scope of the question you're asking and consider the types of resources (primary, secondary, tertiary) you'll need to support your argument. Use the list below to familiarize yourself with the types of sources available and how they can be used along your research journey.
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A primary source may be a first-hand account of an event created during the time period being studied, or at a later date by a participant in the events being studied.
Reference sources like encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs contain concise, factual entries often written by different experts on the topic.
Newspapers and online news sources provide credible documentation of an issue or event as well as editorial commentary and opinion to bring in perspective or analysis to contextualize an event or issue as it may fit into history.
Popular magazines provide the general public with information about topics of interest and current events. Professional or trade magazines are written by members of a particular profession or academic discipline.
Academic journals are publications and forums where new research is evaluated. Studies that are published in academic journals are examined by an independent panel of academic peers.
Popular press or "trade publications" are books that are aimed at the general public. Academic books typically contain scholarly or scientific information and have extensive bibliographies.
The U.S. federal and state governments provide documents and reports to the general public. These documents can contain population data, employment statistics, legislative documents and laws, budgets for government agencies or about spending, and crime statistics.
Documentary films capture real-life events; they can shed light on concepts, ideas, places, people, or events.
Incorporating images and photos in research can enhance understanding and provide valuable insights into the topic being studied.
Data refers to raw numbers that are the results of observation and testing, often as a part of a study or survey. Statistics refers to the use of data in the context of other information.
Recognizing the difference between popular, professional, and scholarly sources makes it easier to evaluate them and decide how to use them.
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