This entry discusses the types of sources and their use in the news process, ethical and legal aspects of sourcing, power in journalist-source relations, the use of online sources, journalists’ verification of sources, and audiences’ views on journalistic sources. Learn the difference between primary and secondary sources in this guide. See examples of each type of source and learn how they're used.

Understanding the Context

We live in an age overflowing with sources of information. With so many information sources at our fingertips, knowing where to start, sorting through it all and finding what we want can be overwhelming! Check out this short video (2:23) from Suffolk County Community College Library to understand how primary, secondary, and tertiary sources vary by discipline. Beyond definitions of source types, this video provides useful examples of what would be primary, secondary and tertiary sources for research questions in different disciplines.

Key Insights

There are many types of sources commonly used in research. These include books, journal articles, and newspapers. Generally, there are three basic types of information sources in research including primary, secondary, and tertiary. They are as follows: A source is a person or book that provides information for a news story or for a piece of research. Military sources say the boat was heading south at high speed.

Final Thoughts

She quotes secondary and primary sources without distinction. In academic writing, sources are the materials from which the writer gathers information. It is important that you evaluate the sources of your information to be sure that each source is accurate, relevant, current, objective, and authoritative. What are Sources? - Getting Started with Research at Shapiro Library ...