Sources of Information

Sources of Information

Sources of information are generally categorized as primary, secondary or tertiary depending on their originality and their proximity to the source or origin. For example, initially, findings might be communicated informally by email and then presented at meetings before being formally published as a primary source. Once published, they will then be indexed in a bibliographic database, and repackaged and commented upon by others in secondary sources.   The designations of primary, secondary and tertiary differ between disciplines or subjects, particularly between what can generally be defined as the sciences and the humanities. For example,      The historian’s primary sources are the poems, stories, and films of the era under study.       The research scientist's primary sources are the results of laboratory tests and the medical records of patients treated with the drug. Written information can be divided into several types.       Primary Sources       Secondary Sources       Tertiary Sources