3: Information Comes in Many Formats

Library Research and Information Literacy 2e · LibreTexts

0%

Contents

    Text

    Size
    100%
    Theme
    Typeface
    Line length
    Spacing

    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    • 3.1: Information Formats
      This page outlines different information sources, detailing their unique features and evaluative criteria. It classifies sources into social media, news articles, magazine articles, scholarly articles, and books, emphasizing that while social media provides immediacy, it often lacks reliability.
    • 3.2: Primary and Secondary Sources
      This page discusses the importance of time in research, highlighting how the timing of events affects available information resources. It distinguishes between primary sources, which offer immediate accounts, and secondary sources, which provide analysis after some delay. Understanding these differences is vital for selecting the right sources for research projects, meeting specific academic requirements.
    • 3.3: Library Databases
      This page outlines the process of locating relevant sources for academic research, emphasizing the importance of understanding assignment requirements and using library databases. It highlights two search methods: broad Discovery Services, such as OneSearch, and using subject-specific databases, such as a business database. Additionally, the page details features of databases, such as filters for refining results and tools for citation management.
    • 3.4: Parting Thoughts
      This page highlights the importance of information formats in assessing the credibility and usefulness of sources. It contrasts the rapid publication of newspapers with the rigorous review process of scholarly articles, emphasizing that understanding these differences is key to evaluating sources for research. Insights into a source's creation process can significantly inform its reliability and value for information needs.

    This page titled 3: Information Comes in Many Formats was last modified on Sat, 03 Oct 2026 20:28:50 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kari Wergeland.