Sources of Information
Gathering Information
Common methods for gathering information include:
Listening
Reading
Interviews
Questioning
Questionnaires
Observation
Study of existing reports
Types of Sources
Information sources are classified into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Primary Sources
A primary source provides direct or first-hand information about an event, person, object, or work
of art. These are original materials that have not been interpreted, condensed, or evaluated by a
second party. They were created at the time the event occurred or by those who experienced the
event.
Examples of primary sources:
Autobiographies
Diaries
Personal letters
Interviews
Original research
Speeches
Photographs
Video recordings
Secondary Sources
A secondary source offers an analysis or restatement of primary sources. These are materials
that summarize, interpret, reorganize, or otherwise provide an added value to a primary source. It
is created after the event or by someone not from the time period.
Examples of secondary sources:
Biographies
Textbooks
Documentary films (analyzing past events)
Reports based on original research
Tertiary Sources
A tertiary source lists, compiles, or indexes primary and secondary information sources. These
sources are most often used to look up facts or to get a general idea about something.
Examples of tertiary sources:
Almanacs
Chronologies
Directories
Manuals
Handbooks
Guidebooks
Indexes
Statistics
Examples
Consider writing a paper about the American Civil War.
Primary Source: A Civil War soldier's diary.
Secondary Source: A book about the Civil War.
Tertiary Source: A list of Civil War battle sites.
News Reports, Speeches, Informative Talks, and
Panel Discussions
News reports: Found in newspapers, television, or radio, aiming to inform readers/viewers of
current events.
Speeches: Formal addresses delivered to an audience.
Informative talks: Educate the audience on a particular topic, helping them understand and
remember the subject.
Panel discussions: Live or virtual discussions about a specific topic among a selected group
of panelists with differing perspectives in front of an audience.
