Tertiary Sources Explained

Tertiary sources offer a unique perspective and can be instrumental in establishing a solid foundation for your academic research and research projects. Let’s explore what defines a tertiary source, provide examples, and discuss how and when to effectively incorporate these sources into your research paper or other scholarly publications.

What is a Tertiary Source?

Tertiary sources synthesize and summarize information from primary and secondary sources, providing an overarching, high-level perspective. These sources are one step removed from the original information in primary research, serving as reference materials that collate and distill key concepts and findings. In academic contexts, they are often used to provide background information and are usually considered tertiary sources.

Common examples of tertiary sources include:

• Encyclopedias (like Wikipedia) and dictionaries
• Handbooks and manuals
• Textbooks and course materials
• Bibliographies and literature reviews
• Fact-checking websites and databases
• Almanacs and directories
• Catalogs and indexes

Tertiary sources are particularly valuable for gaining a broad understanding of a subject or research topic, as they consolidate relevant information from various authoritative sources. They can help you establish important context and background knowledge before delving deeper into primary or secondary materials.

How to Tell if a Source is Tertiary

When evaluating a potential source, ask yourself these guiding questions to determine if it qualifies as a tertiary source:

• Does this source synthesize or summarize information from other sources?
• Is the purpose of this source to provide an overview, definition, or reference material on a topic?
• Is the information presented in a concise, generalized manner rather than an in-depth analysis?
• Does it repackage or restate information from primary or secondary sources?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, the source is likely a tertiary resource. Remember that some materials may exhibit characteristics of both secondary and tertiary sources, so it’s important to examine the nature and intent of the information provided carefully. For instance, research guides at university libraries might include both primary and tertiary resources, so understanding the distinctions is crucial.

How and When to Use Tertiary Sources

Tertiary sources serve a valuable role in the research process but should not be the sole foundation of your academic research. Use tertiary sources in the following ways:

• As starting points to gain background information and context on your research topic.
• To identify key concepts, theories, and influential studies related to your research
• To locate citations and references that you can then trace back to primary and secondary sources
• To provide quick definitions or explanations of specialized terminology, such as those found in a quick guide or directory.

You may briefly reference tertiary sources to establish initial framing or provide supplementary information when writing your research paper or dissertation. However, most of your in-text citations and evidentiary support should come from primary research and authoritative secondary sources. Primary sources provide firsthand or first-hand accounts and direct evidence, vital for supporting original information in your analysis.

Remember, the goal is to build a comprehensive, well-rounded understanding of your subject matter. By strategically incorporating tertiary, secondary, and primary sources, you’ll craft a robust, evidence-based argument demonstrating mastery of the topic. Tertiary sources, such as libguides and catalog entries, often repackage information, which can help you organize your thoughts and compile source materials effectively.

The Role of Tertiary Sources in Academic Research

In the discipline of academic research, tertiary sources are often considered a good starting point. They provide background information and help organize relevant information from primary and secondary sources. However, it’s important to note that tertiary sources are usually not considered a primary source of information in scholarly work.

Research guides at university libraries often emphasize primary and secondary sources over tertiary ones. However, tertiary sources can be valuable in the early stages of research, especially when you’re trying to compile relevant primary and secondary source materials for your research topic.

Quick Guide to Source Types

• Primary Sources: Provide firsthand or direct evidence about an event, person, or phenomenon. Examples include diaries, speeches, interviews, and original research papers.
• Secondary Sources: Analyze, interpret, or critique primary sources. These may use scholarly journal articles, books, and critiques.
• Tertiary Sources: Compile, summarize, or digest information from primary and secondary sources. They are often considered tertiary sources and are usually used to provide an overview or background information.

Practice Questions

1. Which of the following would be considered a tertiary source?

   a) A peer-reviewed journal article

   b) A government report based on original survey data

   c) A university press book that synthesizes multiple studies on a topic

   d) An interview transcript with a subject matter expert

2. True or false: Tertiary sources are always less credible than primary and secondary sources.

3. In which stage of the research process would tertiary sources be most helpful?

   a) Formulating your research question

   b) Conducting a thorough literature review

   c) Analyzing and interpreting your findings

   d) Drafting your paper’s introduction and conclusion

Answers:

1. c) A university press book that synthesizes multiple studies on a topic

2. False. Tertiary sources can provide valuable context and overviews, though they should not be the sole basis for your arguments.

3. a) Formulating your research question