Research Guides: Evaluating Information Sources: Information Source Types

Introduction

In general, information sources tend to be categorized as:

popular or scholarly/academic, based primarily on content level, intended audience, and the rigor of the pre-publication review/editing process
primary, secondary, or tertiary, based on immediacy of the author or creator to the content/event

Evaluating Sources for Credibility
(3:14) Considers factors such as an author's expertise, point of view, or bias; a publication's reputation; and publication date. North Carolina State Univ. Libraries
Understanding Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
Credo Reference/Literati

Open Internet & Social Media Information Sources

Anyone can publish material online through blog/web services or social media. Such writing or commentary is well suited to quick communication and often includes brief postings on topics of conversation between the author and reader. Some columnists and writers for traditional publications also publish blogs to extend their interaction with readers. Remember to ask yourself:

Who is this author?
Does he/she have relevant expertise and experience on the topic at issue?
Are his/her claims adequately supported?

See The Open Internet tab for more information.

Types of Information Sources

There are many types of information sources. The following table contains traditional source types often used in college-level assignments:

	News Sources	Popular Magazines	Trade Journals	Scholarly Journals	Academic Books
Purpose	Inform about current events and topics. Provide basic facts and details.	Inform and/or entertain about current or recent events and topics.	Inform and report on news, trends, and issues relevant to an industry or profession.	Inform and report on research done by scholars and experts. Cover specialized academic topics.	Provide a thorough, comprehensive examination of academic topics.
Author	Journalists, freelance writers, or editorial staff. Brief editing process.	Journalists, freelance writers, or editorial staff Brief editing process.	Journalists, freelance writers, editorial staff, or industry practitioners. Brief editing process.	Subject specialists and experts. Extensive editing process. Usually peer-reviewed.*	Subject specialists and experts. Extensive editing process.
Audience	Anyone. Appeals to non-specialists.	Anyone Appeals to non-specialists.	Those who work in a particular field or profession.	Researchers, scholars, and higher education students.	Researchers, scholars, and higher education students.
Other Characteristics	Brief, published and/or updated daily. Often a good source for editorials or opinion pieces.	Short or medium-length articles. Published weekly or monthly. Often a good source for features, opinion pieces, and interviews.	Usually short or medium-length articles. May include brief reference lists or works cited. Usually published monthly.	Specialized and lengthy articles. Include reference lists or works cited. Takes months to publish due to extensive editing process; often published quarterly.	Include reference lists or works cited. Takes months or years to publish due to extensive research, writing, and editing process.

* Peer review is a process in which experts from the same subject field or profession as the author evaluate a manuscript prior to acceptance for publication.

Based on a chart by Kerry Creelman, Univ. of Houston Libraries, which was adapted from content by Kristina De Voe, Temple Univ. Libraries.