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What is a Tertiary Source – Complete Guide With Examples

Published by Owen Ingram at August 22nd, 2023 , Revised On August 22, 2023

When diving deep into research, understanding the nature and origin of your sources becomes indispensable. In the vast ocean of information, sources are typically categorised into three types: primary , secondary source , and tertiary.

In this blog, we will discuss tertiary sources. 

What is a Tertiary Source?

A tertiary source is an information source that compiles, analyses, and synthesises both primary and secondary sources . Tertiary sources provide an overview or summary of a topic, making complex information more accessible and manageable due to our natural cognitive bias to simplify. They are one step removed from the event or phenomenon under study since they are based on secondary sources (which are based on primary sources ).

To put it in simple terms, if you were to define a tertiary source, it can be considered as the third-hand account or representation of events or information. However, be mindful of the actor-observer bias ; how we perceive an event might differ from how it is represented in the source.

Examples of Tertiary Sources

Here are a few examples of tertiary sources. 

Encyclopedias

Both general ones, like the Encyclopedia Britannica, and specialised ones, such as the Encyclopedia of World History.

Bibliographies

These list primary and secondary sources on a particular topic. For instance, a bibliography on Shakespeare might list all the primary works (his plays and poems) and important secondary analyses (articles and books that interpret his works).

Dictionaries

General and specialised dictionaries that provide definitions or explanations of terms and concepts.

• Directories

Lists of people, organisations, or institutions, usually with contact information.

Contain statistical, factual, and current information. This source evaluation method can be efficient for quick reference.

Fact Books or Handbooks

Such as a handbook on birds or a fact book about countries.

The “Periodicals Index” lists articles from various journals and magazines and could sometimes demonstrate publication bias if certain topics are favoured.

Such as museum guides, how-to guides, and style manuals.

Brief summaries of articles or reports. This could be where the ceiling effect might influence how much information gets condensed.

Atlases and Maps

Some maps can be primary or secondary, but many atlases compile various maps and related data, making them tertiary.

Course Textbooks

These often synthesise primary and secondary material to give students an overview of a subject. Though, be wary of the Pygmalion effect , where expectations can influence outcomes or perceptions.

Such as JSTOR or ProQuest provide access to numerous primary and secondary sources but can be considered tertiary because of their role in organising and categorising knowledge.

Review Articles

Articles in scientific journals or magazines that summarise the current state of research on a topic. However, one must be careful of confirmation bias when reading reviews that align closely with their pre-existing beliefs.

Chronologies or Timelines

Lists of events in chronological order.

Biographical Works

Such as “Who’s Who” provides brief details about various people. It is crucial to ensure that there is not any explicit bias in these details, which can often cloud the true essence of an individual’s achievements or personality.

How to Tell If a Source is Tertiary

A tertiary source provides overviews, summaries, or generalisations of primary and secondary sources. Tertiary sources are often intended for a general audience and are designed to simplify finding and integrating primary and secondary source material. Here are ways to identify if a source is tertiary:

Tertiary sources are typically used to organise, index, or summarise data and information. If the main intent of the source is to provide an overview or compilation of other sources, it’s likely tertiary.

These sources often summarise or compile the work of others. They might provide broad overviews, general information, or synthesised data.

• Encyclopedias (e.g., Encyclopedia Britannica, World Book)
• Bibliographies (lists of sources on a specific topic)
• Databases that offer summaries
• Textbooks (though some might argue they sit between secondary and tertiary)

Tertiary sources may not always provide original data or detailed citations, as their primary goal is summarisation. It could be a tertiary source if a source only provides a general overview without deep citations or references.

Detail Level

Tertiary sources do not typically dive deep into nuanced analysis or detailed topic examination. Instead, they provide a high-level overview or summary.

Experts might write tertiary sources but do not necessarily represent original research or new interpretations by those experts. They compile and summarise what’s already known.

Publication Source

Reputable academic presses might publish tertiary sources, but they are just as often produced by commercial publishers or other entities more focused on wide distribution to the public rather than contributing to scholarly discourse.

If the primary audience for the source seems to be the public or those new to a subject, it might be a tertiary source.

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How and When to Use Tertiary Sources

Here is how and when to use tertiary sources. 

How to Use Tertiary Sources

Starting Research

At the beginning of any research project, tertiary sources can help you get a broad overview of your topic. They can help identify the key themes, trends, names, dates, and other foundational information.

Identifying Primary and Secondary Sources

Tertiary sources often point to primary and secondary sources on a given topic. For example, a bibliography might list all the major works on a specific topic.

Quick Facts and Figures

If you need a quick fact, date, or another specific piece of information, tertiary sources like almanacks or fact books can be invaluable.

Understanding Context

Some tertiary sources, like historical timelines, can help you understand the broader context in which an event occurred.

Comparative Analysis

Some tertiary sources can help compare theories, methodologies, or views on a topic.

When to Use Tertiary Sources:

Preliminary Research

Before diving deep into a subject, use tertiary sources to familiarise yourself with the main ideas and events.

When Primary or Secondary Sources are Scarce

If primary or secondary sources are difficult to find or inaccessible, tertiary sources might offer summaries or overviews that can be useful.

Filling Knowledge Gaps

If there are gaps in your understanding or knowledge of a subject, tertiary sources can help fill those gaps.

Reference and Verification

To double-check a date, name, or fact, tertiary sources can be a quick and reliable tool.

• Tertiary sources generally provide a broad overview rather than an in-depth analysis. They should not be solely relied upon for comprehensive research.
• While tertiary sources aim to be objective, they can sometimes carry affinity bias or contain outdated information, especially if they are not regularly updated. Also, there’s often a bias for action ; we might be inclined to trust and act on tertiary sources because they are more accessible, but they always ensure accuracy. Scholarly source recommendations emphasise verifying information using other sources when accuracy is critical.
• While tertiary sources are great starting points, scholarly and comprehensive research typically requires primary and secondary sources to provide evidence, detail, and depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tertiary source.

A tertiary source consolidates and summarises information from primary and secondary sources. Examples include encyclopedias, almanacs, and textbooks. They provide overviews on topics, making them useful for general understanding but not for in-depth research.

Which is an example of a tertiary source?

An example of a tertiary source is an encyclopedia. Encyclopedias provide summarised and consolidated information on a wide range of topics, drawing from primary and secondary sources. They offer general overviews and background knowledge rather than detailed or original research insights.

Is lexicomp a tertiary source?

Yes, Lexicomp is a tertiary source. It is a clinical drug information resource that provides comprehensive drug monographs, drug interaction tools, and other drug-related information. Lexicomp consolidates and summarises data from primary and secondary sources, offering healthcare professionals quick access to medication and patient care information.

How to identify primary secondary and tertiary sources?

Primary sources originate from the time or event studied, offering first-hand accounts like diaries or raw data. Secondary sources analyse, interpret, or critique primary sources, like scholarly articles. Tertiary sources consolidate and summarise, such as encyclopedias. Identifying involves assessing the content’s proximity to the original event or data.

What is a tertiary source in research?

In research, a tertiary source consolidates and summarises information from primary and secondary sources. It provides overviews and general knowledge rather than original content or detailed analysis. Examples include encyclopedias, textbooks, and handbooks. They’re useful for background information but aren’t typically cited in scholarly research.

What are tertiary sources of information?

Tertiary sources of information consolidate and summarise content from primary and secondary sources. They provide general overviews and are not original or analytical. Examples include encyclopedias, textbooks, handbooks, and directories. These sources are helpful for obtaining background knowledge but are rarely cited in academic research.

Are newspapers tertiary sources?

No, newspapers are typically considered primary sources because they provide first-hand accounts of events shortly after they occur. However, in some contexts, if a newspaper article reviews or summarises past events or other sources, it could function as a secondary source. They aren’t typically classified as tertiary sources.

Are movies tertiary sources?

Movies can be primary, secondary, or tertiary sources, depending on their content and use. A film capturing real-time events is primary. If analysing or interpreting a historical event, it’s secondary. Tertiary usage is rare, but if a film summarises or compiles other sources, it could be considered tertiary— context matters.

Are encyclopedias tertiary sources?

Yes, encyclopedias are considered tertiary sources. They consolidate and summarise information from both primary and secondary sources, providing general overviews on various topics. Encyclopedias are used for obtaining background knowledge and are not typically relied upon for in-depth scholarly research or original insights.

Are books a tertiary source?

Books can be primary, secondary, or tertiary sources, depending on their content. Autobiographies or first-hand accounts are primary. Most academic books analysing a topic are secondary. Handbooks, dictionaries, and encyclopedias, which summarise and compile information, are tertiary. The classification depends on the book’s relationship to the subject.

Are articles a tertiary source?

Articles can be primary, secondary, or tertiary sources, depending on their content. Research articles presenting original data are primary. Review articles summarising multiple studies are secondary. Summaries or overviews found in reference databases or basic introductory pieces can be tertiary. The classification hinges on the article’s content and purpose.

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The vast sea of information is merely a click away in today’s fast-paced, digitally dominated world. With the proliferation of blogs, forums, news outlets, and social media platforms, anyone can become an ‘expert’ and share ‘facts’.

From academic research to personal blogs, the bedrock of trust and credibility is often established by one simple act: source citing. Whether we are constructing a thesis for a graduate program or debunking a myth on a personal blog, providing the origins of our information bolsters our arguments and pays homage to the original creators of that knowledge.

When researching or exploring a new topic, the distinction between primary and secondary sources is paramount. The validity, reliability, and relevance of the information you gather will heavily depend on the type of source you consult. 

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What are primary sources?

In the sciences primary sources are original research or data. Primary sources can include any of the following publications 

• Journal Articles -- Journal articles can be primary sources if they contain original research, but keep in mind that not all journal articles are primary sources.
• Reports -- Reports are publications on research that are published independently of a journal. They are often published by governments or companies.
• Theses and Dissertations -- Theses and Dissertations are the original research of an academic working on a degree. 
• Conference Proceedings -- Conference Proceedings are a collection of papers that have been presented at a conference. 
• Published Data -- Data can be considered a primary source, as it is the product of original research.

Why use primary sources?

  Primary sources are a researchers firsthand account of their research. They provide an in depth view into how the research was conducted, and may contain supplemental materials like questionnaires used. A summary of a study or experiment in a book or review paper may not discuss all the findings, and you can gain more insight into a particular topic or issue by looking at the primary sources. 

How to find primary sources:

Resources for finding primary sources include: 

• Databases and Indexes -- The exact database or index you choose to search will depend on the discipline you are searching in. 
• Review Papers -- Review papers are often synthesized from other researchers to give an in-depth understanding of the current state of knowledge on a topic. If you have found a review paper when you are looking for a research paper don't fear! If the review paper is on the write topic it will cite plenty of research papers on your topic of interest. 

What are secondary sources?

In the sciences secondary sources analyze, interpret, summarize, or evaluate the findings of primary sources. Secondary sources can include any of the following publications: 

• Journal review articles -- A review article summarizes past research on a given topic. Review articles can range from highly intensive systematic or integrative reviews or less rigorous literature reviews.
• Textbooks -- The information in textbooks in the sciences is the product of past research.  
• Monographs -- A monograph is a book-length scholarly publication dedicated to a single topic. 

Secondary sources can save you time by providing information on the current state of knowledge on a given topic, and also as a way to find primary resources. If you are interested to know what are important, seminal papers in on a topic look at what papers are cited in a textbook on that topic. Review papers can give you in-depth information on a particular research area. Secondary resources are also often less technical than primary resources. 

How to find secondary sources:

Resources for finding secondary sources 

• Databases and Indexes -- Databases and indexes are particularly useful for finding review articles.  
• The Library Catalog or Ram Search -- The library catalog or Ram Search will help you locate books on the topic you are interested in. 

What are tertiary sources?

In the sciences tertiary resources are synthesized from primary and secondary resources. They usually provide summaries on the current state of knowledge. Tertiary sources can include the following publications: 

• Encyclopedias
• Dictionaries 
• Factbooks 
• Almanacs 

Why use tertiary sources?

Tertiary sources can be viewed as a jumping off point for your own research. They provide succinct  summaries on topics, and can be a good way to familiarize yourself with the terminology on a topic before you begin searching the databases.

How to find tertiary sources:

Resources for finding tertiary sources include: 

• The Library Catalog or Ram Search -- Keep in mind a majority of our encyclopedias are in the reference room. 
• LibGuides and the Library Website -- We have a number of digital encyclopedias. Check the LibGuide for your field to see what digital encyclopedias we might offer!
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• Tertiary Sources Explained | Quick Guide & Examples

Tertiary Sources Explained | Quick Guide & Examples

Published on 4 September 2022 by Eoghan Ryan .

A tertiary source, also called a reference work, is a source that gives an overview of information gathered from primary and secondary sources but does not provide original interpretations or analysis. Examples include:

• Dictionaries
• Encyclopaedias
• Bibliographies

These sources compile information from a wide variety of sources. They may also list, summarise , and index sources that provide original data or direct evidence (primary sources) and sources that describe or interpret this evidence (secondary sources).

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Table of contents

What is a tertiary source, examples of tertiary sources, how to tell if a source is tertiary, how and when to use tertiary sources, practice questions, frequently asked questions about tertiary sources.

There are three types of research sources:

• Primary sources: These provide direct evidence about the topic of your research question (e.g., newspapers , diary entries, and photographs).
• Secondary sources: These interpret or analyse information from primary sources (e.g., books and journal articles ).
• Tertiary sources: These are reference works that list other kinds of sources and provide background information (e.g., encyclopaedias and dictionaries).

You will mainly use primary and secondary sources, as these provide information that you can analyse or use to formulate your own ideas and arguments.

Tertiary sources do not provide original insights or analyses. Instead, they collect, index, and provide an overview of primary and secondary sources. This means that while you might use them to learn more about a topic you’re new to, you’re unlikely to cite them in your paper.

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Tertiary sources provide a wide range of helpful information, including key terms, definitions, lists of relevant sources, and broad overviews.

• Bibliographies , databases , directories , indexes , and timelines are tertiary sources that do not provide much textual insight, but rather organise relevant information and help you to find primary and secondary sources .
• Dictionaries , encyclopaedias , manuals , and textbooks provide definitions and overviews of a topic based on primary and secondary sources.

The key difference between a tertiary source and a primary or secondary source is that the tertiary source does not provide any original insights or analysis.

But what constitutes a tertiary source depends on your research problem and how you use the source.

For example, while encyclopaedias are typically considered tertiary sources, a research paper focusing on the development of encyclopedic writing since 1900 might use encyclopaedia entries as direct evidence and therefore as primary sources.

To determine whether a source is tertiary, ask:

• Am I analysing the source itself or using it for background information?
• Does the source provide original information (primary) or analyse other sources (secondary)? Or does it only summarise or catalog information from other sources (tertiary)?

Although tertiary sources are often credible , they’re not typically attributed to a single author and don’t provide the specialised knowledge expected of scholarly sources . For these reasons, you likely won’t cite tertiary sources in your research paper, but you might still use them behind the scenes in your research.

Use tertiary sources in the beginning stages of your research process to:

• Establish background information
• Identify relevant keywords and terms
• Understand current debates in your field
• Identify key scholars

This will lay the foundation for further research and direct you to helpful primary and secondary sources that you will engage with in more detail during the writing process .

A tertiary source may list, summarize , or index primary and secondary sources or provide general information from a variety of sources. But it does not provide original interpretations or analysis.

Some examples of tertiary sources include:

Primary sources provide direct evidence about your research topic (photographs, personal letters, etc.).

Secondary sources interpret and comment on information from primary sources (academic books, journal articles, etc.).

Tertiary sources are reference works that identify and provide background information on primary and secondary sources . They do not provide original insights or analysis.

What constitutes a tertiary source depends on your research question and how you use the source.

• Am I examining the source itself, or am I using it for background information?
• Does the source provide original information ( primary ) or analyse information from other sources ( secondary )? Or does it consolidate information from other sources (tertiary)?

You usually shouldn’t cite tertiary sources as evidence in your research paper, but you can use them in the beginning stages of the research process to:

• Familiarise yourself with current debates in your field

Use tertiary sources in your preliminary research to find relevant primary and secondary sources that you will engage with in more depth during the writing process .

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Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources

Search catalog, what are the differences.

Sources of information or evidence are often categorized as primary, secondary, or tertiary material. These classifications are based on the originality of the material and the proximity of the source or origin. This informs the reader as to whether the author is reporting information that is first hand or is conveying the experiences and opinions of others which is considered second hand. Determining if a source is primary, secondary or tertiary can be tricky. Below you will find a description of the three categories of information and examples to help you make a determination.

Primary Sources

These sources are records of events or evidence as they are first described or actually happened without any interpretation or commentary. It is information that is shown for the first time or original materials on which other research is based.  Primary sources display original thinking, report on new discoveries, or share fresh information.

Secondary Sources

These sources offer an analysis or restatement of primary sources. They often try to describe or explain primary sources. They tend to be works which summarize, interpret, reorganize, or otherwise provide an added value to a primary source.

Tertiary Sources

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.

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What are tertiary sources, where to find tertiary sources, how to use tertiary sources.

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On this page, you'll learn:

what tertiary sources are and what they look like in different disciplines

where to find tertiary sources

how to use tertiary sources

additional tips to help you identify whether a source is tertiary 

Tertiary sources provide overviews and context on a topic but generally no original material on that topic. They are often also referred to as "reference sources."

Like primary and secondary sources, tertiary sources may look different depending on your discipline. For example:

• Oxford Reference Online A collection of over 2 million entries from dictionaries, encyclopedias, and companions published by Oxford University Press. The database spans 25 different subject areas and disciplines.
• VCU Libraries Search Search for ‘encyclopedia,’ ‘handbook,’ or ‘textbook’ + your general topic (cartoons, depression, etc.) Remember, VCU Libraries Search contains both print and electronic tertiary sources. No need to leaf through all 30 volumes of Encyclopedia Britannica!

Tertiary sources are mainly used for the following reasons:

to get background information on a topic

to quickly find additional sources about a topic

to learn the meanings of technical language or jargon in other sources on your topic

Tertiary sources are not usually cited in papers because they do not have original ideas. However, you should still provide a quick summary of any background information that is necessary for your reader to understand your argument. They often contain useful statistics or historical data which provide important context to your research topic. Language you can use to provide these summaries include:

A number of __________ have recently suggested that ________.

The standard way of thinking about X has it that ________.

Many people assume that ________.

• Studies of X have indicated ________. It is not clear, however, that this conclusion applies to _______.

You probably already know that Wikipedia is not a scholarly source you should cite in a research paper. However, it can be a great way to introduce yourself to topics with which you are not already familiar. Most Wikipedia articles also contain references to scholarly sources that you  can  cite in your own paper; just be careful to read the actual cited source to verify the information referenced in Wikipedia is correct. 

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The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Interest Groups, Lobbying and Public Affairs pp 1345–1349 Cite as

Tertiary Information Sources

• Austin Fleisher 7 &
• Lacey MacLean 7  
• Reference work entry
• First Online: 01 January 2022

39 Accesses

Tertiary sources are aggregations of other sources. They can include collections such as: abstracts, almanacs, bibliographies, dictionaries, directories, factbooks, handbooks, indexes, manuals, and textbooks, among others.

Introduction

Understanding how best to use tertiary sources can help complement Interest Groups, Lobbyists, and Public Affairs (IG, L, and PA) practitioners’ research abilities. Tertiary sources are valuable for those beginning to research a new topic to those looking to do a deeper dive on complex materials. Tertiary sources are best used when learning and resource collection are key objectives of the involved task. This could be helpful in kick-starting a research project or providing a framework for how to accomplish a given objective. This entry will focus on defining the various types of tertiary sources as well as inform how they compare to their primary, secondary, and social source counterparts.

Tertiary Sources Compared to Primary, Secondary, and...

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Almanac. Dictionary.com, LLC. www.dictionary.com/browse/almanac . Accessed 16 Dec 2020.

Bibliography. Merriam-Webster. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bibliography . Accessed 16 Dec 2020.

Blake, G., & Bly, R. (2000). The elements of technical writing (1st ed.). New York: Pearson P T R.

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Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictionary . Accessed 16 Dec 2020.

Directories. Merriam-Webster. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/directories . Accessed 16 Dec 2020.

Index. Merriam-Webster. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/index . Accessed 16 Dec 2020.

The Writing Center – University of Wisconsin Madison. University of Wisconsin Madison, 2020 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. writing.wisc.edu/handbook/assignments/writing-an-abstract-for-your-research-paper . Accessed 11 Dec 2020.

Further Reading

Carroll, A., Brown, J., & Buchholtz, A. K. (2017). Business & society: Ethics, sustainability & stakeholder management (10th ed.). South Melbourne: Cengage ISBN: 9781305959828.

Harris, P., & Fleisher, C. S. (Eds.). (2017). The SAGE handbook of international corporate and public affairs . London: Sage Publications ISBN: 1446276112.

Harris, P., & Fleisher, C. S. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of public affairs . London: Sage Publications ASIN: B07Z51QZLN.

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Fleisher, A., MacLean, L. (2022). Tertiary Information Sources. In: Harris, P., Bitonti, A., Fleisher, C.S., Binderkrantz, A.S. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Interest Groups, Lobbying and Public Affairs. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44556-0_176

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Primary, Secondary, & Tertiary Sources

• Source Types
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Tertiary Sources
• Examples by Discipline

What are tertiary sources?

Tertiary sources contain information that has been compiled from primary and secondary sources. They organize information in an easily accessible way and often point the researcher to the primary and secondary literature on a given topic. 

What is the role of tertiary sources in research?

Despite their name, tertiary sources are really the first resources researchers should consult when beginning a research project. They provide a general orientation to a topic and list relevant primary and secondary sources to help researchers progress to the next stage of their work. Think about tertiary sources as gateways to more specific sources. Usually tertiary sources are not cited in research unless the author uses them to demonstrate a general understanding of a topic. 

What are some examples of tertiary sources?

Tertiary sources include:

• Bibliographies
• Chronologies
• Dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
• Directories

Tertiary sources are usually found in the Reference section of libraries. 

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Organizing Academic Research Papers: Tertiary Sources

• Purpose of Guide
• Design Flaws to Avoid
• Glossary of Research Terms
• Narrowing a Topic Idea
• Broadening a Topic Idea
• Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
• Academic Writing Style
• Choosing a Title
• Making an Outline
• Paragraph Development
• Executive Summary
• Background Information
• The Research Problem/Question
• Theoretical Framework
• Citation Tracking
• Content Alert Services
• Evaluating Sources
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Tertiary Sources
• What Is Scholarly vs. Popular?
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods
• Using Non-Textual Elements
• Limitations of the Study
• Common Grammar Mistakes
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Footnotes or Endnotes?
• Further Readings
• Annotated Bibliography
• Dealing with Nervousness
• Using Visual Aids
• Grading Someone Else's Paper
• How to Manage Group Projects
• Multiple Book Review Essay
• Reviewing Collected Essays
• About Informed Consent
• Writing Field Notes
• Writing a Policy Memo
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Acknowledgements

Tertiary sources consist of information which is a collection of primary and secondary sources. Tertiary sources are good starting points for research projects because they often distill large amounts of information.

Value of Tertiary Sources

Even more difficult in discerning the difference between a primary and secondary source is reviewing tertiary sources. Some writers don't make the distinction between tertiary and secondary because both types of materials do not represent original works (primary sources). However, for the purposes of reviewing the literature, it is important to understand how tertiary sources can contribute to your overall search for relevant information for your paper.

Reviewing tertiary source material can be of value in improving your overall research paper because they:

• Often compile factual information in one place and to search for the data in multiple sources takes time (e.g., searching for names of heads of state in an almanac),
• Lead the reader to additional sources . For example, rather than citing in your literature review a long list of additional sources on a topic, you can simply cite to a comprehensive bibliography compiled by another researcher,
• Distil large quantities of closely related information or data (e.g., a statistical compendium),
• Often contain references and bibliographies that can point you to key primary and secondary sources.

Examples of tertiary sources you could review as part of your overall study include:     * Abstracts;     * Almanacs;     * Bibliographies (also considered secondary);     * Chronologies;     * Dictionaries and Encyclopedias (also considered secondary);     * Directories;     * Fact books;     * Handbooks;     * Indexes, databases, search engines, and bibliographies used to locate primary and secondary sources;     * Manuals;     * Statistical compendiums;     * Textbooks and course readers (may also be secondary).

Tertiary sources also include user-contributed online resources such as Wikipedia.

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Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources: A Quick Look

• A Quick Look
• Discipline Grid
• Library FAQs

Three Source Types

Students assigned research papers are often confused if told by an instructor to use primary sources. What IS a primary source? How do you IDENTIFY a primary source? How does IT differ from a secondary source or a tertiary source? Here's a quick take on the differences between the three source types.

Google Scholar

Use Google Scholar to find academic-quality information (articles, papers, reports) on the Web.

Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Sources: A Quick Look with Examples

NOTE: The examples above are intended to provide a basic understanding of the three types of sources. BUT it's important to remember that what constitutes a primary, secondary, or tertiary source can vary from one academic discipline to another, as is illustrated behind the Discipline Grid tab above.

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• Last Updated: Jan 13, 2021 8:21 AM
• URL: https://libguides.nyit.edu/sources

Primary & Secondary Source Research

• Finding Online Primary Sources
• Specialized Archives
• Primary Sources in the Sciences
• Secondary Sources in Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences
• Secondary Sources in the Sciences

What are tertiary sources?

Tertiary sources compile, index, or organize other sources

• Present condensed material, generally with references back to the primary and/or secondary literature
• Useful to look up data or to get an overview of a subject
• Rarely contain original material

Tertiary sources may include:

• compilations
• dictionaries
• encyclopedias
• Wikipedia articles
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• URL: https://libguides.oxy.edu/primarysources

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources

Defining primary, secondary and tertiary sources, primary, secondary and tertiary sources in disciplines, video: the information landscape, video: primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.

Primary sources provide first-hand observations or direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation. They are created by witnesses or recorders at or near the time of the event. They have not been filtered through further interpretation or evaluation. 

Primary sources may include

• Original Documents: diaries, speeches, letters, interview transcripts, news footage, autobiographies, reports, census records, data from an experiment
• Creative Works: poetry, plays, novels, music scores, films, paintings
• Objects: clothing, buildings, tools, furniture

Secondary sources are works that analyze, assess or interpret a historical event, era or phenomenon.  They may use primary sources to to write a review, critique or interpretation often well after the event.

Secondary sources may include

• journal articles, editorial articles, literacy criticism, book reviews, biographies, textbooks

Tertiary Sources are those used to identify and locate primary and secondary sources.

Tertiary sources may include

• Reference Works: encyclopedias, abstracts
• Lists or Collections: bibliographies, finding aids
• Search Tools: library database or catalog, indexes

Using the Source

What is considered a primary source can vary depending on how you are using the source. 

For instance, if you were analyzing how authors of popular magazine articles discussed the Boeing 737 MAX crashes, the magazine articles would serve as your primary sources.  However, if you cited from a magazine article for your research paper on airline safety , the magazine would serve as a secondary source.

Different Disciplines

Disciplines may be more or less likely to work with specific types of primary sources. See this chart for examples.  If you unsure what is considered a primary source in your discipline, consult with your faculty instructor.

This video provides excellent definitions and examples of primary, secondary and tertiary sources.

(1:19) University of Huddersfield Library

Beyond definitions of primary, secondary and tertiary source types, this video provides useful examples of what would be primary, secondary and tertiary sources for research questions in different disciplines. See 1:48.

(2:33) Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) Library

• Last Updated: Aug 5, 2022 3:01 PM
• URL: https://libguides.ucmerced.edu/source-types

Identifying & Using Scholarly Sources

• Scholarly vs Web Resources
• Source Exercise
• Putting Your Sources to Work
• Quoting, Paraphrasing & Summarizing
• Citation Help
• Paper Formatting Tips

Essential Resources

Online access available through Theology & Religion Online.

These digital editions are fully searchable and printable to aid you in your research work.

What are Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Sources

• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Tertiary Sources

Primary sources are the artifacts that “provide direct evidence of human activity” (Guidelines for Primary Source Literacy, 2018). As a reader, a writer, or a researcher, it is not uncommon to find the use of primary sources challenging. This challenge comes from the critical analysis that we are required to perform when analyzing the source. Proper analysis requires that we pay attention to the often unique and sometimes unfamiliar context in which the source was written. According to the American Library Association (ALA), primary sources “require critical analysis due to their creators’ intents and biases; the variety of context in which they have been created, preserved, and made accessible; and the gaps, absences and silences that may exist in the material” (Guidelines).

Where to find Primary Sources 

Below is a small selection of primary sources that can be found in the CDU Online Library. Please contact the librarian on how to locate the primary sources specific to your writing needs.

Secondary sources  are works that analyze, assess, or interpret a historical event, era, or phenomenon. Secondary sources often offer a review or critique of a Primary source. Secondary sources are generally written well after the advent of the Primary source.

Secondary sources do not offer new evidence.

Examples of Secondary sources  include academic books, journal articles, reviews, conference proceedings, dissertations, and class lectures.

Note: Not all articles are Full text. If you need an article that is not Full text,contact the Librarian.

Peer-reviewed articles are organized around key themes for courses in religion in North America. 'The Basics' Sections cover broad global introductions to religious traditions suitable for introductory courses on Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. 'Religious Traditions' and 'Themes in Religion' Sections give more of an in-depth approach to the North American context and combine overview articles, main articles, case studies, hot topics as well as eBook content.

Tertiary sources  index, organize, or compile other sources.

Examples of Tertiary sources include dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, fact books, Wikipedia, bibliographies, directories, guidebooks, manuals, handbooks, and textbooks.

Note: Depending on the content , d ictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, and textbooks may also be Secondary sources.

✦Over 7 million words of authoritative content, the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary remains the gold standard reference for Biblical Studies. It is an unprecedented interfaith exploration of the Bible that is interdisciplinary in scope ✦The first major Bible dictionary to be published in America in 30 years that includes six volumes of approximately 1,200 pages each ✦More than 6,000 entries, 7,000,000 words, and nearly 1,000 contributors ✦Endpaper maps of the Near Eastern world keyed to text for quick location of archaeological and biblical sites ✦Articles on pseudepigraphic and apocryphal texts, Nag Hammadi tractates, and individual Dead Sea Scrolls, including the most recently published sectarian Dead Sea Scrolls as well as articles illustrating the literary artistry of the biblical text ✦A richness of information unequaled in the history of biblical studies

• New Catholic Encyclopedia This link opens in a new window Access all 15 volumes and the latest supplement online through Gale eBooks.
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• Last Updated: Oct 26, 2023 5:32 PM
• URL: https://library.cdu.edu/scholarly-sources

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Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Another information category is called publication mode and has to do with whether the information is

• Firsthand information (information in its original form, not translated or published in another form).
• Secondhand information (a restatement, analysis, or interpretation of original information).
• Third-hand information (a summary or repackaging of original information, often based on secondary information that has been published).

The three labels for information sources in this category are, respectively, primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources. Here are examples to illustrate the first- handedness, second-handedness, and third-handedness of information:

When you make distinctions between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, you are relating the information itself to the context in which it was created. Understanding that relationship is an important skill that you’ll need in college, as well as in the workplace. Noting the relationship between creation and context helps us understand the “big picture” in which information operates and helps us figure out which information we can depend on. That’s a big part of thinking critically, a major benefit of actually becoming an educated person.

Primary Sources – Because it is in its original form, the information in primary sources has reached us from its creators without going through any filter. We get it firsthand. Here are some examples that are often used as primary sources:

• Any literary work, including novels, plays, and poems.
• Breaking news.
• Advertisements.
• Music and dance performances.
• Eyewitness accounts, including photographs and recorded interviews.
• Blog entries that are autobiographical.
• Scholarly blogs that provide data or are highly theoretical, even though they contain no autobiography.
• Artifacts such as tools, clothing, or other objects.
• Original documents such as tax returns, marriage licenses, and transcripts of trials.
• Websites, although many are secondary.
• Correspondence, including email.
• Records of organizations and government agencies.
• Journal articles that report research for the first time (at least the parts about the new research, plus their data).

Secondary Source – These sources are translated, repackaged, restated, analyzed, or interpreted original information that is a primary source. Thus, the information comes to us secondhand, or through at least one filter. Here are some examples that are often used as secondary sources:

• All nonfiction books and magazine articles except autobiography.
• An article or website that critiques a novel, play, painting, or piece of music.
• An article or web site that synthesizes expert opinion and several eyewitness accounts for a new understanding of an event.
• The literature review portion of a journal article.

Tertiary Source – These sources further repackage the original information because they index, condense, or summarize the original.

Typically, by the time tertiary sources are developed, there have been many secondary sources prepared on their subjects, and you can think of tertiary sources as information that comes to us “third-hand.” Tertiary sources are usually publications that you are not intended to read from cover to cover but to dip in and out of for the information you need. You can think of them as a good place for background information to start your research but a bad place to end up. Here are some examples that are often used as tertiary sources:

• Dictionaries.
• Guide books, including the one you are now reading.
• Survey articles.
• Bibliographies.
• Encyclopedias, including Wikipedia.
• Most textbooks.

Tertiary sources are usually not acceptable as cited sources in college research projects because they are so far from firsthand information. That’s why most professors don’t want you to use Wikipedia as a citable source: the information in Wikipedia is far from original information. Other people have considered it, decided what they think about it, rearranged it, and summarized it–all of which is actually what your professors want you , not another author, to do with information in your research projects.

The Details Are Tricky — A few things about primary or secondary sources might surprise you:

• Sources become primary rather than always exist as primary sources.

It’s easy to think that it is the format of primary sources that makes them primary. But that’s not all that matters. So when you see lists like the one above of sources that are often used as primary sources, it’s wise to remember that the ones listed are not automatically already primary sources. Firsthand sources get that designation only when researchers actually find their information relevant and use it.

For instance: Records that could be relevant to those studying government are created every day by federal, state, county, and city governments as they operate. But until those raw data are actually used by a researcher, they cannot be considered primary sources.

Another example: A diary about his flying missions kept by an American helicopter pilot in the Viet Nam War is not a primary source until, say, a researcher uses it in her study of how the war was carried out. But it will never be a primary source for a researcher studying the U.S. public’s reaction to the war because it does not contain information relevant to that study.

• Primary sources, even eyewitness accounts, are not necessarily accurate. Their accuracy has to be evaluated, just like that of all sources.
• Something that is usually considered a secondary source can be considered a primary source, depending on the research project.

For instance, movie reviews are usually considered secondary sources. But if your research project is about the effect movie reviews have on ticket sales, the movie reviews you study would become primary sources.

• Deciding whether to consider a journal article a primary or a secondary source can be complicated for at least two reasons.

First, journal articles that report new research for the first time are usually based on data. So some disciplines consider the data to be the primary source, and the journal article that describes and analyzes them is considered a secondary source.

However, particularly in the sciences, the original researcher might find it difficult or impossible (he or she might not be allowed) to share the data. So sometimes you have nothing more firsthand than the journal article, which argues for calling it the relevant primary source because it’s the closest thing that exists to the data.

Second, even journal articles that announce new research for the first time usually contain more than data. They also typically contain secondary source elements, such as a literature review, bibliography, and sections on data analysis and interpretation. So they can actually be a mix of primary and secondary elements. Even so, in some disciplines, a journal article that announces new research findings for the first time is considered to be, as a whole, a primary source for the researchers using it.

Despite their trickiness, what primary sources usually offer is too good not to consider using because:

• They are original. This unfiltered, firsthand information is not available anywhere else.
• Their creator was a type of person unlike others in your research project, and you want to include that perspective.
• Their creator was present at an event and shares an eyewitness account.
• They are objects that existed at the particular time your project is studying.

Particularly in humanities courses, your professor may require you to use a certain number of primary sources for your project. In other courses, particularly in the sciences, you may be required to use only primary sources.

What are considered primary and secondary sources can vary from discipline to discipline. If you are required to use primary sources for your research project, before getting too deep into your project check with your professor to make sure he or she agrees with your choices. After all, it’s your professor who will be grading your project. A librarian, too, can verify your choices. Just remember to take a copy of your assignment with you when you ask, because the librarian will want to see the original assignment. After all, that’s a primary source!

Activity: Complete the following quiz to move to the next chapter.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: PRIMARY, SECONDARY, OR TERTIARY?

Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research Copyright © 2015 by Teaching & Learning, Ohio State University Libraries is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Understanding Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources

When conducting research, it is crucial to distinguish between different types of sources to ensure the accuracy and reliability of your findings.

Understanding the differences between primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources is fundamental to any research endeavor.

In this comprehensive research guide, we will explore each type of source, its characteristics, and how to effectively use them in your academic pursuits.

1. Primary Sources:

What is a primary source.

A primary source is an original piece of information or evidence that was created or produced during the time under study or by someone with direct firsthand knowledge of the topic being discussed.

These sources provide direct and unmediated evidence of historical events, experiences, or research findings. They are the closest to the subject of investigation and are essential for researchers and historians to gain authentic insights into past events and the perspectives of individuals who experienced them.

Examples of primary sources include:

• Original documents : Letters, diaries, manuscripts, official records, speeches, and autobiographies written by the individuals involved in historical events.
• Artifacts : Objects, tools, clothing, or artwork from a specific time period or culture.
• Audio and video recordings : Recorded interviews, speeches, oral histories, and footage from significant events.
• Newspapers and magazines : Original newspaper articles or magazine publications reporting on contemporary events.
• Photographs : Images taken during historical periods, providing visual evidence of people, places, and events.
• Research data : Original data collected through experiments, surveys, or observations.

What are the characteristics of primary sources?

The characteristics of primary sources include the following:

• Originality : Primary sources are the first-hand, original materials created or produced during the time period being studied. They provide direct evidence and reflect the perspectives of the individuals who experienced or witnessed the events.
• Time Proximity : Primary sources are contemporary to the events they describe. They were created or recorded at the time the events occurred, ensuring their relevance and accuracy for historical research.
• Unmediated Information : Primary sources offer information without interpretation or analysis by others. They present raw data or firsthand accounts, allowing researchers to form their own conclusions.
• Authenticity : Since primary sources are created by those directly involved in the events, they are considered authentic and reliable sources of information.
• Diversity : Primary sources come in various forms, such as documents, photographs, artifacts, audio recordings, video footage, and more. This diversity allows researchers to gain a well-rounded understanding of historical events from different angles.
• Contextual Information : Primary sources are valuable for understanding the cultural, social, and historical context in which they were created. They can reveal insights into the beliefs, values, and practices of the time period.
• Limitations : Primary sources may have limitations, biases, or reflect the perspective of a specific individual or group. Researchers need to critically analyze and corroborate information from multiple sources to develop a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the historical context.
• Uniqueness : Each primary source is unique, contributing specific details and nuances to the understanding of historical events. They cannot be duplicated or replicated, making them invaluable for historical research.

Researchers often rely on primary sources as the foundation of their studies, enabling them to reconstruct historical events with as much accuracy and authenticity as possible. The use of primary sources allows scholars to engage directly with history and interpret it based on firsthand evidence.

How important are primary sources?

Primary sources offer a unique perspective and insight into historical events or phenomena. They are invaluable for researchers aiming to understand the context and nuances of a specific period.

When conducting historical research or academic work, primary sources are highly valued because they offer a firsthand, unfiltered perspective of the past, giving researchers the opportunity to analyze and interpret history from an authentic and reliable standpoint.

It is important to corroborate information from various primary sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of a particular historical event or topic.

How to use Primary Sources?

• Evaluate Credibility: Assess the reliability and trustworthiness of the source. Consider the author's authority, bias, and potential motivations.
• Contextualize: Analyze the historical context surrounding the primary source to interpret its significance accurately.
• Corroborate: Compare and cross-reference multiple primary sources to validate facts and gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

2. Secondary Sources

What is a secondary source.

A secondary source is a type of information that interprets, analyzes, or discusses primary sources or other secondary sources. Unlike primary sources, secondary sources are not directly connected to the event or time period under study.

Instead, they are created by individuals who were not directly involved in the original events but have researched and synthesized information from primary sources to provide commentary, analysis, or interpretations.

Examples of secondary sources include:

• Books : Historical, academic, or literary works that discuss and analyze past events, using primary sources as references.
• Journal Articles : Scholarly articles that summarize and analyze research based on primary sources or other academic works.
• Documentaries : Films or television programs that provide interpretations of historical events using primary source materials and expert analysis.
• Biographies : Accounts of individuals' lives, often drawing on primary sources to present a comprehensive narrative.
• Review Articles : Summaries or evaluations of multiple research studies or primary sources on a particular topic.
• Historical Reviews : Academic journals or magazines that present historical analysis, critiques, or overviews of events or periods.
• Encyclopedias : Reference books or websites that offer concise explanations and interpretations of various historical topics, relying on multiple sources.
• Literature Reviews : Sections of research papers or theses that summarize and analyze relevant research studies and primary sources.

Secondary sources are essential for gaining a broader perspective and deeper understanding of historical events and academic subjects.

They provide context, analysis, and insights that help researchers comprehend complex issues and place primary sources within a broader historical context.

When using secondary sources, it is important to critically evaluate their credibility, accuracy, and the evidence they draw from primary sources.

Researchers often use secondary sources to support their arguments and interpretations, in conjunction with primary sources to create a more comprehensive and informed analysis.

What are the characteristics of Secondary sources :

• Not original accounts but derived from primary sources or existing secondary sources.
• Provide analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of primary data.
• Examples include books, scholarly articles, documentaries, biographies, and review articles.

How important are Secondary sources?

Secondary sources serve as valuable scholarly works that synthesize information, offer various perspectives, and aid in understanding complex topics.

How to use Secondary Sources?

• Literature Review: Utilize secondary sources to identify existing research and understand the current state of knowledge on your topic.
• Supporting Evidence: Use secondary sources to back up your arguments and strengthen your research findings.
• Critique and Analyze: Assess the credibility and reliability of the secondary source to ensure the validity of the information.

3. Tertiary Sources

What is a tertiary source.

A tertiary source is a type of information that compiles and summarizes data and information from primary and secondary sources.

Unlike primary and secondary sources, which present original content and interpretations respectively, tertiary sources provide an overview or distillation of existing knowledge.

They are one step further removed from the original information and are often used as introductory or reference materials.

Examples of tertiary sources include:

• Encyclopedias : Comprehensive reference books or websites that provide general information on a wide range of topics. They often include summaries of primary and secondary sources.
• Almanacs : Annual publications containing various statistical data, facts, and general knowledge on a broad range of subjects.
• Dictionaries : Books or online resources that provide definitions, explanations, and translations of words and terms.
• Textbooks : Educational books designed to present an overview of a specific subject, incorporating information from primary and secondary sources.
• Guidebooks : Books or websites that offer instructions, explanations, and information about specific topics or activities.
• Indexes and Abstracts : Compilations of references and brief summaries of articles or other works on particular subjects.
• Bibliographies : Lists of books, articles, and other sources related to a particular topic or field of study.

Tertiary sources are useful for gaining a quick understanding of a subject, identifying key concepts, and finding further sources for research. They are often the starting point for research projects or provide concise information for general readers.

However, since they rely on secondary and primary sources, it is important to verify and corroborate the information with original or more authoritative sources when conducting in-depth research.

Tertiary sources are best utilized in combination with primary and secondary sources to ensure accuracy and reliability in academic or scholarly work.

How important are Tertiary sources?

• Highly condensed and simplified information.
• Aimed at general audiences.
• Examples include encyclopedias, dictionaries, textbooks, and reference materials.

How important are Tertiary sources?

Tertiary sources are valuable for gaining a quick overview of a subject or clarifying basic facts.

How to use Tertiary Sources?

• Quick Facts: Use tertiary sources to obtain general information and key terms related to your research topic.
• Understanding Concepts: Use these sources to gain a basic understanding of a new subject before diving into primary and secondary sources.

Tips for Effective Source Selection

Utilize a mix of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources to ensure a well-rounded perspective on your research topic.

Credibility

Verify the credibility and expertise of the authors and publishers of all sources used in your research.

Check the publication dates to ensure you are using the most up-to-date information available.

By understanding the distinctions between primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources, researchers can conduct thorough and well-informed investigations.

Remember that each type of source serves a different purpose in the research process and plays a vital role in constructing a comprehensive academic study.

Always critically evaluate your sources and consider their context to produce rigorous and reliable research results.

Related Guides

• Conference Proceedings: A Researcher's Guide
• Academic Journals: A Comprehensive Research Guide
• Open Access : The Definitive Guide to Open Access Publishing

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources: Definitions

• Definitions
• Guidance - External sources

Primary Source Definitions

Definition provided by RUSA (Reference and User Services Association):

Primary sources are the evidence of history, original records or objects created by participants or observers at the time historical events occurred or even well after events, as in memoirs and oral histories. Primary sources may include but are not limited to: letters, manuscripts, diaries, journals, newspapers, maps, speeches, interviews, documents produced by government agencies, photographs, audio or video recordings, born-digital items (e.g. emails), research data, and objects or artifacts (such as works of art or ancient roads, buildings, tools, and weapons). These sources serve as the raw materials historians use to interpret and analyze the past.

Definition provided by Bodleian Library (University of Oxford)

A primary source is a work not based on or derived from another source (e.g. contemporary records, data & statistics, conference papers, photographs, working papers).

A secondary source includes the use, analysis, interpretation of primary (and other) sources.

A practical overview (Howard S. Carrier, Social Sciences Librarian at JMU):

Primary sources are typically firsthand accounts (examples might include someone's journal or diary), or they are documents produced at the same time as the events they record - examples include photographs, newspapers, law reports, government documents (such as Congressional hearings), or research reports documenting the findings of original research. They represent the work of their original authors or creators, not later analysis of that work by another person. For example, photographs of the dust storms taken during the Great Depression can be regarded as primary sources about the Great Depression in rural America in the 1930s.

Secondary sources represent an another person's analysis of events or findings, and frequently draw upon primary sources in their analysis. If an historian in 2018 writes a textbook about the Great Depression they will likely be be using primary sources - newspaper articles, photographs, and firsthand accounts by people who lived through the Great Depression - to inform the textbook they are writing. The textbook therefore represents a secondary source about the Great Depression.

Tertiary sources are summaries and synopsizes of events or topics and their authors may draw upon primary and secondary sources for their creation. An obvious example of a tertiary source would be an encyclopedia article about the Great Depression.

Primary sources in the humanities may include journals or diaries, photographs, newspaper articles, law reports and government documents, and firsthand accounts of events; in the natural, applied, and social sciences, primary sources may also include research reports documenting the findings of original research; in literature and the arts, primary sources may also include poems, plays, stories, original works of art such as paintings or sculptures, originally composed music or original performances.

Secondary sources involve someone else's analysis of events, topics, or findings. Obvious examples include textbooks or books discussing a particular topic and also academic articles in which the work of others is discussed.

Tertiary sources are brief summaries of topics; encyclopedia are the best example of a tertiary source.

Primary Sources made available through JMU Libraries: https://guides.lib.jmu.edu/az.php?a=all&t=24586

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Introduction to library research.

• Types of Periodicals
• Google Scholar
• Finding Books and Articles
• Evaluating Sources
• Reference: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Primary, Secondary, & Tertiary Sources

• Primary Materials and Statistics
• Steps in the Research Process

It's valuable to know the distinction between three types of sources: primary, secondary, and tertiary.

Primary sources are original first hand materials which have not been interpreted. These include materials like diaries, court proceedings, institutional records, statistical data (raw data), or speeches. Original scientific research is also a primary source. See the  Primary Sources research guide  for information on locating primary sources.

Secondary sources are materials that evaluate, interpret, and discuss primary sources. Many scholarly journal articles, histories, and monographs are secondary interpretations of primary source material.

Tertiary sources are materials like encyclopedias (Oxford Reference/Wikipedia), dictionaries, and other reference works . These works compile and summarize primary and secondary sources. Consult these sources during the initial stages, but use primary and secondary sources for your research.

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• URL: https://utopia.ut.edu/introductiontoresearch

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Communication Studies *: Tiertiary Sources

• Electronic Books
• Citation Tracking
• Conference Proceedings & White Papers
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Tertiary sources consist of information which is a collection of primary and secondary sources. Tertiary sources are good starting points for research projects because they often distill large amounts of information.

All contect is from a Literature Review please refer to the sub-tab under The Literature Review created by Dr. Robert Larabee.

Value of Tertiary Sources

Even more difficult in discerning the difference between a primary and secondary source is reviewing tertiary sources. Some writers don't make the distinction between tertiary and secondary because both types of materials do not represent original works (primary sources). However, for the purposes of reviewing the literature, it is important to understand how tiertiary sources can contribute to your overall search for relevant information for your paper.

Reviewing tertiary source material can be of value in improving your overall research paper because they:

• often compile factual information in one place and to search for the data in mutliple sources takes time (e.g., searching for names of heads of state in an almanac),
• lead the reader to additional sources . For example, rather than citing in your literature review a long list of additional sources on a topic, you can simply cite to a comprehensive bibliography compiled by another researcher,
• distill large quantities of closely related information or data (e.g., a statistical compendium),
• often contain references and bibliographies that can point you to key primary and secondary sources.

Examples of tiertiary sources you could review as part of your overall study include:     * Abstracts;     * Almanacs;     * Bibliographies (also considered secondary);     * Chronologies;     * Dictionaries and Encyclopedias (also considered secondary);     * Directories;     * Fact books;     * Handbooks;     * Indexes, databases, search engines, and bibliographies used to locate primary and secondary sources;     * Manuals;     * Statistical compendiums;     * Textbooks and course readers (may also be secondary).

Tertiary sources also include user-contributed online resources such as Wikipedia.

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• Last Updated: Feb 23, 2024 2:44 PM
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Reference List: Textual Sources

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Basic Format for Books

Edited book, no author, edited book with an author or authors, a translation.

Note : When you cite a republished work, like the one above, in your text, it should appear with both dates: Plato (385-378/1989)

Edition Other Than the First

Article or chapter in an edited book.

Note : When you list the pages of the chapter or essay in parentheses after the book title, use "pp." before the numbers: (pp. 1-21). This abbreviation, however, does not appear before the page numbers in periodical references, except for newspapers. List any edition number in the same set of parentheses as the page numbers, separated by a comma: (2nd ed., pp. 66-72).

Multivolume Work

Articles in periodicals.

APA style dictates that authors are named with their last name followed by their initials; publication year goes between parentheses, followed by a period. The title of the article is in sentence-case, meaning only the first word and proper nouns in the title are capitalized. The periodical title is run in title case, and is followed by the volume number which, with the title, is also italicized. If a DOI has been assigned to the article that you are using, you should include this after the page numbers for the article. If no DOI has been assigned and you are accessing the periodical online, use the URL of the website from which you are retrieving the periodical.

Article in Print Journal

Note: APA 7 advises writers to include a DOI (if available), even when using the print source. The example above assumes no DOI is available.

Article in Electronic Journal

Note :  This content also appears on Reference List: Online Media .

As noted above, when citing an article in an electronic journal, include a DOI if one is associated with the article.

DOIs may not always be available. In these cases, use a URL. Many academic journals provide stable URLs that function similarly to DOIs. These are preferable to ordinary URLs copied and pasted from the browser's address bar.

Article in a Magazine

Article in a newspaper.