Selecting Sources
What kinds of sources do I need?
To select the best source for information, you first need to understand what the differences are among the various kinds of sources that provide us information. By doing so, you will be better able to zero in on the kind of information you are looking for and maximize your search time.
Information
Source |
Information Need |
Publication Frequency |
Intended Audience |
Weaknesses |
| Books |
Background information.
Historical information.
Statistics.
Bibliography of other sources. |
Varies.
Books may take
up to 2 years to come to press. |
General public to experts. |
Information may be dated.
|
| Magazines |
Current information.
Short article, easy to understand.
Photographs and illustrations. |
Weekly,
biweekly,
monthly |
General public |
Authors may not be experts.
Lack of depth.
Sources not cited. |
Trade
Publications |
Specialized information related
to a particular discipline.
Medium length articles.
Some bibliographies |
Weekly,
biweekly,
monthly |
Those interested in a particular
subject area and professionals in the area. |
Geared toward those with at least some understanding of a field. |
| Journals |
In depth information, written by experts.
Bibliography of other sources.
Charts and graphs.
Recent research on a topic. |
Quarterly,
monthly,
biannually |
Professionals in a field. |
May be difficult to understand.
|
| Newspapers |
Current information. |
Daily,
weekly. |
General public. |
Authors usually not experts.
|
| Internet |
Statistics.
Varied points of view on a topic.
Company websites. |
Varies. Each site
must be checked
for dates/updates. |
General public. |
Need to verify credibility/accuracy. |
|
