Tertiary sources are publications that summarize or otherwise present information found in secondary sources. These include textbooks, encyclopedias, and other reference resources. They are useful for selecting a topic and obtaining basic information, definitions of terms and concepts and brief descriptions of the key aspects of the topics. Sources such as newspaper articles, magazine articles, opinion articles and websites are usually not academic, although there are some exceptions.
Below is a quick overview of the types of common resources that will help you find the best way to choose sources for your research. These resources are available in libraries and are found by searching for books in Omnivore BookSearch and Omnivore ArticleSearch or in thematic databases for articles. For example, someone with a doctorate in Mathematics wouldn't write an academic article about Jane Austen because she doesn't have the knowledge and experience to do so. When thinking about the types of sources that could be used, it is also important to consider the types that the University considers acceptable for academic work.
Sometimes you will be asked to search for resources classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary resources. Academic journals: An academic journal publishes accredited research articles by academics or experts in a discipline. Students often think that they have found a reliable source in a newspaper, magazine or website and automatically assume that it is of the same quality as an academic or academic source. These people have studied the subject for many years and have high academic degrees in the field.
Academic articles always have a list of resources, known as a bibliography, cited works or reference page. When researching a topic for a university assignment, academic sources are preferred over other types of sources. Usually, these types of resources are books and articles that are reviewed before publication, but they can also include media and websites of authorized organizations and institutions. For academic courses and research project tasks, it is best to use academic or professional resources that are reliable, accurate, and valid.
They are usually found in academic journals, but books and reports can also be considered academic sources. These sources can usually be found in libraries and databases and should include a list of resources, known as a bibliography, cited works or reference page.
