Skip to Main Content

Getting Started: Using the Library for Research

Flow of Information

We use different types of information sources for different reasons. Information around specific events start out as social media posts and news stories, and eventually are analyzed and studied by people writing in-depth research articles, books, and reference sources.

This table shows how characteristics such as time frame, authors, and audience vary by the type of source. For you, it all comes down to the purpose - why the source of information was created, and how appropriate it is for what you need. 

Type of Source Time Frame Where to Look Written By Audience
News (internet, TV, radio) Seconds, minutes

Websites

TV & radio news

Journalists General public
Newspapers (print) Day(s)

Online newspaper websites

Newspaper databases & indexes

Library catalog

Journalists General public
Magazines (print) Week(s)

Periodical databases & indexes

Library catalog

Journalists

Essayists

Other contributors

General public to knowledgeable layperson
Journals (print & electronic) 6 months+

Library catalog

Article database

Journal website

Google Scholar

Specialists in the field, usually scholars with PhDs Specialists, scholars, and students
Books 2 years+

Library catalog

Digital collections

Specialists/scholars General public to specialists

Reference sources

(encyclopedias, etc.)

Average 10 years Library catalog Specialists/scholars General public to specialists
Websites Seconds/minutes to years Web search tools Anyone General public to specialists

 

Popular & Scholarly Sources: What's the Difference?

undefined

This graphic is adapted from a guide by Pao You-Kong Library at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

 

Want more information? This video goes into more detail...

Source: Vanderbilt University, Peabody Library

Finding Background Information

Here are a few places that provide good background information on a variety of subjects.

Last Updated: Jan 22, 2024 3:09 PM