Types of Information Sources

Primary Sources

• Original, uninterpreted, or firsthand materials created by individuals directly involved in an event or activity.

• Examples: Speeches, autobiographies, personal letters, photos, diaries, manuscripts.

• Interviews become primary sources when the interviewee shares firsthand knowledge.

Secondary Source

• Information derived from multiple primary sources, edited, and interpreted.

• Example: Autobiography → Biography

• Examples: Scholarly books and articles, encyclopedias, research articles, dictionaries, histories, commentaries, magazine and newspaper articles

Tertiary Sources

• Summaries and collections of primary and secondary sources.

• Often not considered valid for academic research as they provide overviews rather than original references.

two main formats of information sources

Print and Nonprint

print sources

Books, journals, periodicals, dictionaries, newspapers, encyclopedias, magazines, government documents, photographs, records, reports

nonprint sources

Audio, video, audio-video, microform, digital documents

What is a library?

A building or room that contains a collection of books, periodicals, and/or audio-visual materials.

What is the purpose of a library?

It provides access to information, ideas, and works of imagination. (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, 2003)

What are the different kinds of libraries?

• National Library

• School Libraries

• Public Libraries

• Legislative Libraries

• Private Libraries

Internet

• A go-to place in search of new information.

• A global network of computers that allows users worldwide to share information for various purposes. (Shelly and Campbell, 2012)

• Easier to obtain information but harder to verify accuracy

Indigenous Media

• An important but often neglected source of information.

• Media conceptualized, produced, and circulated by indigenous people for communication, cultural preservation, and artistic expression. (Wilson, et al., 2015)

• Examples: folklore, folk music, dances, indigenous arts.

Factors to Consider in Choosing Media and Information Sources:

Reliability of Information

• Verified and evaluated information is considered reliable.

• What are the details of this news?

• Which of these details can be verified in other sources?

• Could these details be true? Why or why not?

Factors to Consider in Choosing Media and Information Sources:

Accuracy of Information

• The closeness of the report to actual data.

• Which of these facts are measurable?

• How are they derived?

• Was the article written objectively?

• Is the article written with care?

Factors to Consider in Choosing Media and Information Sources:

Value of Information

• Information is valuable if it helps improve decision-making.

• Who would find this article valuable?

Factors to Consider in Choosing Media and Information Sources:

Authority of the Source

• Sources with expertise in the subject are considered authoritative.

• Who wrote the article?

• How is the author related to the article?

• What was his source?

• Are sources properly cited?

• What is the reputation of the author?

• Is he known for some biases?

Factors to Consider in Choosing Media and Information Sources:

Timeliness

• Information's reliability, accuracy, and value may change over time.

• When was the article written?

• Is it possible that some information has changed over time?

• If yes, would the change affect the article’s conclusion?