For more information on source types see the Research 101 Guide.
|
Source Type |
Characteristics |
Examples |
Use For |
|
Books |
Vary from general interest to scholarly titles, University Presses generally produce scholarly sources |
Reality TV : Remaking Television Culture Think Tanks in America Western Places, American Myths |
Overview of topic, in-depth coverage of topic, consult index and table of contents to locate information relevant to your topic |
|
Reference Books: General Encyclopedias, Subject Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Handbooks, Chronologies, Etc. |
Authoritative and concise information sources, often compilations from many contributors |
Encyclopedia of Children Adolescents, and the Media Handbook of Engaged Scholarship Dictionary of Food Ingredients |
Topic ideas, overview of topic, background information, quick facts, consult bibliographies to identify additional sources |
|
Newspapers |
Articles written by journalists for the general public, frequent publishing (often daily) provides up-to-date information, articles usually short |
New York Times Sioux Falls Argus Leader Le Monde |
Current information, coverage of international, national, and local events, opinion pieces in addition to factual information |
|
Periodicals: Magazines |
Articles written by journalists for the general public |
Newsweek Time Psychology Today |
Overview of topic, information on popular culture and current events |
|
Periodicals: Trade Journals |
Practical information for professionals to help them keep up-to-date in their field |
Advertising Age American Biology Teacher Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration News |
News, analysis, opinion, job ads, product information |
|
Periodicals: Academic Journals |
Articles written by experts for an educated or professional audience, articles often longer but narrow in scope, research oriented, may be peer-reviewed |
New England Journal of Medicine Communication Quarterly Journal of American Culture |
In-depth information, scholarly sources, original research, reviews of research on a topic, consult bibliographies to identify additional sources |
|
Government Documents |
Information published by government agencies |
U.S. Census data Legislative hearings National Institutes of Health research |
Many applications: Overview of topic, quick facts, in-depth analysis, research reports, statistics |
|
Multimedia |
Broadcasts, news, images, audio files, videos, films |
Online news clip Dances with Wolves video Transcript of National Public Radio program |
Many applications: News, opinion, primary sources, pop culture, background information |
|
Web Sources |
Wide variety of sources, offering many perspectives, evaluate sources carefully as many are not edited or fact-checked |
Topic ideas, overview of topic, opinions, information from professional organizations, quick facts, commercial perspectives—.com sites |