Template:Tertiary source: Difference between revisions
Sources>Newslinger Adding local short description: "Index or textual consolidation of primary and secondary sources" (Shortdesc helper) |
I have embellished the definition to help readers get a good understanding of what a tertiary source is |
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Depending on the topic of research, a scholar may use a [[bibliography]], [[dictionary]], or [[encyclopedia]] as either a tertiary or a secondary source.<ref name="umd"> [http://www.lib.umd.edu/ues/guides/primary-sources Primary, secondary and tertiary sources.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703015116/http://www.lib.umd.edu/ues/guides/primary-sources |date=2013-07-03 }}". University Libraries, University of Maryland. Retrieve 07/26/2013</ref> This causes difficulty in defining many sources as either one type or the other. | Depending on the topic of research, a scholar may use a [[bibliography]], [[dictionary]], or [[encyclopedia]] as either a tertiary or a secondary source.<ref name="umd"> [http://www.lib.umd.edu/ues/guides/primary-sources Primary, secondary and tertiary sources.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703015116/http://www.lib.umd.edu/ues/guides/primary-sources |date=2013-07-03 }}". University Libraries, University of Maryland. Retrieve 07/26/2013</ref> This causes difficulty in defining many sources as either one type or the other. | ||
In some [[academic discipline]]s the | In some [[academic discipline]]s the differentiation between a secondary and tertiary source is relative.<ref name="umd"/><ref name=JCU /> | ||
In the [[UNISIST model|United Nations International Scientific Information System (UNISIST) model]], a secondary source is a bibliography, whereas a tertiary source is a synthesis of primary sources.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Søndergaard | first1 = T. F. | last2 = Andersen | first2 = J. | last3 = Hjørland | first3 = B. | doi = 10.1108/00220410310472509 | title = Documents and the communication of scientific and scholarly information: Revising and updating the UNISIST model | journal = Journal of Documentation | volume = 59 | issue = 3 | pages = 278 | year = 2003 | pmid = | pmc = }}</ref> | In the [[UNISIST model|United Nations International Scientific Information System (UNISIST) model]], a secondary source is a bibliography, whereas a tertiary source is a synthesis of primary sources.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Søndergaard | first1 = T. F. | last2 = Andersen | first2 = J. | last3 = Hjørland | first3 = B. | doi = 10.1108/00220410310472509 | title = Documents and the communication of scientific and scholarly information: Revising and updating the UNISIST model | journal = Journal of Documentation | volume = 59 | issue = 3 | pages = 278 | year = 2003 | pmid = | pmc = }}</ref> | ||
==Types of tertiary sources== | ==Types of tertiary sources== | ||
As tertiary sources, encyclopedias, [[textbook]]s, and [[compendia]] attempt to summarize and consolidate the source materials into an overview, but may also present subjective commentary and analysis (which are characteristics of secondary sources). | As tertiary sources, encyclopedias, [[textbook]]s, and [[compendia]] attempt to summarize, collect, and consolidate the source materials into an overview, but may also present subjective, or biased commentary and analysis (which are characteristics of secondary sources). | ||
[[Bibliographic index|Indexes]], bibliographies, [[Concordance (publishing)|concordances]], and [[Database#Research|databases]] may not provide much textual information, but as aggregates of primary and secondary sources, they are often considered tertiary sources. | [[Bibliographic index|Indexes]], bibliographies, [[Concordance (publishing)|concordances]], and [[Database#Research|databases]] may not provide much textual information, but as aggregates of primary and secondary sources, they are often considered tertiary sources. So although tertiary sources are both primary and secondary, they are are more towards a secondary source because of commentary and bias. | ||
[[Almanac]]s, [[guide book|travel guides]], [[field guide]]s, and [[timeline]]s are also examples of tertiary sources. | [[Almanac]]s, [[guide book|travel guides]], [[field guide]]s, and [[timeline]]s are also examples of tertiary sources. | ||
Revision as of 20:51, 11 October 2018
Template:Short description Template:Selfref Template:Distinguish A tertiary source is an index or textual consolidation of primary and secondary sources.[1][2][3] Some tertiary sources are not to be used for academic research, unless they can also be used as secondary sources, or to find other sources.[4]
Overlap with secondary sources
Depending on the topic of research, a scholar may use a bibliography, dictionary, or encyclopedia as either a tertiary or a secondary source.[1] This causes difficulty in defining many sources as either one type or the other.
In some academic disciplines the differentiation between a secondary and tertiary source is relative.[1][3]
In the United Nations International Scientific Information System (UNISIST) model, a secondary source is a bibliography, whereas a tertiary source is a synthesis of primary sources.[5]
Types of tertiary sources
As tertiary sources, encyclopedias, textbooks, and compendia attempt to summarize, collect, and consolidate the source materials into an overview, but may also present subjective, or biased commentary and analysis (which are characteristics of secondary sources).
Indexes, bibliographies, concordances, and databases may not provide much textual information, but as aggregates of primary and secondary sources, they are often considered tertiary sources. So although tertiary sources are both primary and secondary, they are are more towards a secondary source because of commentary and bias.
Almanacs, travel guides, field guides, and timelines are also examples of tertiary sources.
Survey or overview articles are usually tertiary, though review articles in peer-reviewed academic journals are secondary (not be confused with film, book, etc. reviews, which are primary-source opinions).
Some usually primary sources, such as user guides and manuals, are secondary or tertiary (depending on the nature of the material) when written by third parties.
See also
Notes
de:Sekundärliteratur#Tertiärliteratur
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Primary, secondary and tertiary sources. Template:Webarchive". University Libraries, University of Maryland. Retrieve 07/26/2013
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Tertiary sources". James Cook University.
- ↑ "Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Resources". University of New Haven.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).