INFORMATION SOURCES AND ITS USES
A Module
Presented to Prof. Angelina P. Resurreccion
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Sta. Mesa, Manila
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Subject
MLS 603 Advanced Reference and Information Sources Services
by
Ma. Victoria S. Manuel
July 6, 2019
INFORMATION SOURCES AND ITS USES 1
Ma. Victoria S. Manuel
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Differentiate the following information sources:
1.1. Primary
1.2. Secondary
1.3. Tertiary
2. Identify the different examples of information sources.
Enduring Understanding
By reading this module, you will understand that:
1. There are three types of information sources.
1.1. Primary sources are documents, images or artifacts that provide firsthand testimony or
direct evidence concerning an historical topic under research investigation.
1.2. Secondary sources are works that analyze, assess or interpret an historical event, era,
or phenomenon, generally utilizing primary sources to do so.
1.3. Tertiary sources are sources that identify and locate primary and secondary sources.
These can include bibliographies, indexes, abstracts, encyclopedias, and other
reference resources.
Essential Questions
1. What is information sources and it uses?
2. What are the different types of information sources?
3. What are the differences between each type of information sources?
INFORMATION SOURCES AND ITS USES 2
Ma. Victoria S. Manuel
Essential Learning
Reference librarians are only as good as their collections. We never answer questions from our
own memory, but always find answer in appropriate sources, verify them if possible in another
source, and present the answers and citations to our patrons. We also introduce our library
users to our reference collections and assist them in performing their own research. For many
decades, the reference collection consisted almost totally of reference books, including many
annuals editions of standard works from a few well-respected reference publishers. In the past
ten years, however, reference collections have been transformed by the move from print to
electronic resources.
Information can come from virtually anywhere: personal experiences, books, articles, expert
opinions, encyclopedias, the Web. The type of information needed will change depending on its
application. Individuals generate information on a daily basis as they go about their work. In
academic institutions, staff and students consult various sources of information. The choice of
the source to consulted is usually determined by the type of information sought.
In general, there are three types of resources or sources of information: primary, secondary, and
tertiary. It is important to understand these types and to know what type is appropriate for your
coursework prior to searching for information.
INFORMATION SOURCES AND ITS USES 3
Ma. Victoria S. Manuel
Types of Information Sources
In general, there are three types of resources or sources of information: primary,
secondary, and tertiary. It is important to understand these types and to know what type is
appropriate for your coursework prior to searching for information.
1. Primary Sources
Primary sources are original materials on which other research studies are based. Primary
sources report a discovery or share new information. They present first-hand accounts and
information relevant to an event. They present information in its original form, not interpreted
or condensed or evaluated by other writers. They are usually evidence or accounts of the
events, practices, or conditions being researched and created by a person who directly
experienced that event. Primary sources are the first formal appearance of results in print or
electronic formats. Examples of primary sources are: eyewitness accounts, journalistic
reports, financial reports, government documents, archeological and biological evidence,
court records, ephemerals (posters, handbills), literary manuscript and minutes of meetings.
The definition of a primary source may vary depending upon the discipline or context. A diary
would be a primary source because it is written directly by the individual writing in the diary.
Interviews are primary sources because the individual talks about the topic directly from what
he/she knows about it.
INFORMATION SOURCES AND ITS USES 4
Ma. Victoria S. Manuel
Some examples of primary source formats include:
• archives and manuscript material
• photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, films
• journals, letters and diaries
• speeches
• scrapbooks
• published books, newspapers and magazine clippings published at the time
• government publications
• oral histories
• records of organizations
• autobiographies and memoirs
• printed ephemera
• artifacts, e.g. clothing, costumes, furniture
• research data, e.g. public opinion polls
2. Secondary Sources
Secondary sources are works that analyze, assess or interpret an historical event, era, or
phenomenon, generally utilizing primary sources to do so. Secondary sources often offer a
review or a critique. Secondary sources can include books, journal articles, speeches,
reviews, research reports, and more. Generally speaking, secondary sources are written well
after the events that are being researched. However, if an individual writes about events that
he or she experienced first-hand many years after that event occurred, it is still considered a
primary source.
INFORMATION SOURCES AND ITS USES 5
Ma. Victoria S. Manuel
Secondary sources were created by someone who did not experience first-hand or participate
in the events or conditions you’re researching. For a historical research project, secondary
sources are generally scholarly books and articles.
A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more
steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may contain pictures, quotes or graphics
of primary sources.
Examples of secondary sources include:
• A scholarly journal article about the history of cardiology
• A book about the psychological effects of WWI
• A biographical dictionary of women in science
• An April 2007 newspaper or magazine article on anti-aging trends
For a historical research project, secondary sources are most often scholarly books and
articles.
3. Tertiary Sources
Tertiary sources are sources that identify and locate primary and secondary sources. These
can include bibliographies, indexes, abstracts, encyclopedias, and other reference
resources; available in multiple formats, i.e. some are online, others only in print.
It is important to note that these categories, i.e. secondary and tertiary, are not mutually
exclusive. A single item may be primary or secondary (or even tertiary) depending on your
research topic and the use you make of that item.
INFORMATION SOURCES AND ITS USES 6
Ma. Victoria S. Manuel
These are sources that index, abstract, organize, compile, or digest other sources. Some
reference materials and textbooks are considered tertiary sources when their chief purpose
is to list, summarize or simply repackage ideas or other information. Tertiary sources are
usually not credited to a particular author.
Examples of Tertiary Sources:
• Textbooks (sometimes considered as secondary sources)
• Dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
• Manuals
• Guidebooks
• Directories
• Almanacs
• Indexes
• Bibliographies
Assessment Task
I. Multiple choice
Direction: Choose the best answer.
1. What is primary source?
a. source often used
b. source found in an important book like encyclopedia
c. source created at the time of an event by individual who was there
d. source created after the event has happened
INFORMATION SOURCES AND ITS USES 7
Ma. Victoria S. Manuel
2. What is secondary source?
a. source which is someone's second choice to use for research
b. source created after an event has happened by someone not present at the event
c. second piece of information written about an event
d. source created at the time of an event
3. What is not an example of primary source?
a. textbook
b. diary
c. interview
d. photograph
4. What is an example of secondary source?
a. bibliography
b. concordance
c. dictionaries
d. magazine article
5. What is tertiary source?
a. source that is used by college students
b. source that identify and locate primary and secondary sources
c. source that is rarely used as reference
d. source that offers a review or critique
II. Essay
1. Differentiate the three types of information sources and give examples of each.
2. Why is it important to understand the different types of information sources and to know
what type is appropriate for your research?
INFORMATION SOURCES AND ITS USES 8
Ma. Victoria S. Manuel
Answer Key:
I. Multiple Choice
1. c
2. b
3. a
4. d
5. b
References
Identifying Primary and Secondary Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved July 2, 2019, from
https://sccollege.edu/Library/Pages/primarysources.aspx
Three Types of Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved July 2, 2019, from https://libguides.merrimack.edu/
research_help/Sources
