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PHC101 Research Skills Guide: Find

Commonly used sources

There are many different types of resources which might offer information on the topic you are researching, but you need to consider whether the source is scholarly or authoritative enough for an academic assignment. The Evaluate section of this guide will help, but If in doubt, check with your lecturer.

Source type*: Use this source to:
Book
  • Find an overview, introduction, and/or background on a topic
  • Look for in-depth information about a broad topic
Journal article   
  • Access the latest research and ideas on your topic
  • Learn about varied perspectives on a topic
  • Examine a topic in very specific detail
News sources
  • Obtain the latest current affairs and business information
  • Investigate public attitudes to topics and issues
Website   
  • Locate reports and documents from government, academic, or professional organisations
  • Find background or introductory information
  • Familiarise yourself with the topic

Reference material

(dictionaries, encyclopaedias)
  • Find factual and statistical information on a topic
  • Get an overview of a subject
  • Find definitions
  • Use subject specific resources to decipher the "jargon" of your topic

*Source type includes both hard copy and online versions of the source (for example, books includes both hard copy books and ebooks). 

The following pages will show you how to find and interpret any recommended readings and also introduce you to three places you can go to help you find these sources for your assignments:

 

Sources of information

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