Learning Objectives:
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:
- Identify and utilise an appropriate type of source, based on your specific information need (i.e. overview, scientific research, news);
- Explain the advantages of different types of media used to disseminate information;
- Differentiate between popular magazines and scholarly journals.
- Understand the peer review process and its significance in scholarly research.
Types of Information Sources
Enhance your skills in identifying various types of information sources and choosing the most appropriate ones based on your specific information needs by watching this informative video.
Once you find a potential topic, you will want to determine the types of information required to meet your research needs.
- Do you need primary or secondary sources, or a combination of both?
- What are popular resources and are they appropriate to use in academic research?
- Are you required to have peer-reviewed journal articles, or are scholarly articles sufficient?
- Where is the best place to look for different types of information, from clinical studies to statistics, etc.?
- When should you consider searching outside the library’s databases for research resources?
