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INFORMATION SOURCES: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources, and Gray literature |
Primary source: Original manuscript, documents, or records used in preparing a published or unpublished work.
Secondary source: A published or unpublished work that relies on primary source(s).
Tertiary source: A published or unpublished work that is based on secondary sources.
Gray (=grey) literature: Source material(s) not available through the usual systems of publication (e.g. books or periodicals) and distribution.
Certain disciplines may use different criteria for identifying Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary literature. Check with your professor or faculty advisor for help specific to your discipline
| Primary Sources | Secondary Sources | Tertiary Sources | Gray Literature | |
Type of work |
*Autobiography *Case studies *Correspondence *Diaries/
Personal *Dissertations/Theses *First-person accounts *Historical documents (Constitution,
treaties- *Laboratory data *Minutes of meetings *Original manuscripts / documents *Original research *Photographs *Religious documents (Bible, scripture…) *Speeches *Technical reports *Works of fiction, poetry, drama… |
*Analysis *Biography *Criticism *Dissertations/Theses (Literature review materials) *Editorials *News
reporter *Film documentaries *Reviews
of the *Work that relies on primary sources |
*Film documentaries that
are not *Work
that is |
*Conference proceedings *Data exchange *Dissertations / Theses *Environmental impact statements *Government documents / publications *Market research reports *Online documents *Oral presentations *Technical reports *Working papers |
Author |
*Authors reporting on personal experiences and/or work. *In academics or research, often written by an expert or graduate student in the field. |
*Author has an interest in the topic.
*Can be an expert in the field. |
*Author has an interest in the topic. *Free-lance *Staff writer |
*Author works in the field *Expert in the field. *Masters or PhD candidates |
|
Where published
Where Indexed |
BooksGray literature Monograph Scholarly journal Refereed/peer reviewed journalSUBJECT-SPECIFIC INDEXESABI/Inform Congressional Universe FirstSearch Databases1 J-STOR Kulwer Lexis/Nexis Westlaw NCJRS Website OVID Proquest Medical, Nursing & Psychology Stat-USA State Capital Universe Statistical Universe
1. FirstSearch databases include subject-specific and general indexes. For help in selecting the right databases, ask a reference staff. |
Books, EncyclopediasGray literature Newspapers Pamphlets Scholarly journal Peer reviewed journalsSUBJECT-SPECIFIC & GENERAL INDEXESABI/Inform Congressional Universe Criminal Justice Abstracts FirstSearch Databases1 GaleNet J-STOR Kulwer Lexis/Nexis Westlaw NCJRS Website NetAdvantage OVID Proquest Direct, Medical, Nursing & Psychology Stat-USA State Capital Universe Statistical Universe 1. FirstSearch databases include subject-specific and general indexes. For help in selecting the right databases, ask a reference staff. |
Books / textbooks Gray literature Magazines Newspapers Trade journals GENERAL INDEXES Academic Index EBSCO FirstSearch Databases General Science Index2 Lexis/Nexis - News New York Times Index2 NewsBank InfoWeb Proquest Direct Readers Guide to Periodical Literature2
2. Print Material |
Business / Industry publications Government publications (Federal, state & local) Unpublished dissertation / ThesesINDEXES to GENERAL &GRAY LITERATUREBig Cypress Basin Caloosahatchee Docs. Charlotte HarborDocs. Criminal Justice Abstr. Dissertation Abstracts3 ERIC http://askeric.org/Eric/ GrayLIT Network http://www.osti.gov/graylit/ Library of Congress loc.gov National Sea Grant Library http://nsgd.gso.uri.edu/ NCJRS ncjrs.org/ NOAA noaa.gov NTIS ntis.gov PapersFirst3 Proceedings 3 Scientific & Technical Information Network http://stinet.dtic.mil/ US Census Bureau www.census.gov USDA usda.gov USGS usgs.gov WorldCat3
3 Access through FirstSearch
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