LibGuides: Information Literacy for First Year Students: Lesson 3: Information sources: Well-researched information

Tip

It is always better to use information coming from credible sources.

Source	Details	Example	Where to find?
Books	Thorough information Well researched information Primary and secondary information Background and historical information Bibliography of other sources Information can be checked for accuracy Published once and sometimes further additions Format: Print or Electronic	Title: Urban pollution and health risks	Library catalogue
Journals/ Academic Journals	In-depth information Contains an abstract Written in academic language Aimed at the academic community Articles written by experts in their study fields Peer reviewed Charts and graphs Recent research on a topic Bibliographies of other sources Information can be checked for accuracy Credentials of author/researchers are provided Published in volumes and issues Available in print or in an electronic journal database	Journal of Library and Information Science Journal of American Psychology Harvard Medical Journal	Library catalogue and databases
Websites	Connected group of pages on the World Wide Webb Organisational information (.org) Commercial information (.com) Educational information (.edu) Individual information Company information Social media Information cannot always be verified or checked for accuracy Textual information Visual information Multimedia Interactive	Information is devoted to a single topic or several closely related topics Message boards Social Media sites Academic journals (etc)	World Wide Webb