Tertiary source: Difference between revisions
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{{Distinguish|Tertiary sector of the economy}} | {{Distinguish|Tertiary sector of the economy}} | ||
{{For|Wikipedia's policy on the use of tertiary sources|Wikipedia:No original research#Tertiary}} | {{For|Wikipedia's policy on the use of tertiary sources|Wikipedia:No original research#Tertiary}} | ||
A '''tertiary source''' is an index or textual consolidation of already published [[Primary source|primary]] and [[secondary source]]s<ref name="umd">[https://guides.lib.odu.edu/informationliteracytutorials 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> that does not provide additional interpretations or analysis of the sources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.odu.edu/genedinfolit/1infobasics/tertiary_information_sources.html|title=Tertiary Information Sources|date=September 2012|publisher=Old Dominion University -- ODU Libraries|access-date=20 June 2013}}</ref><ref name=JCU>"[http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/tertiary Tertiary sources] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106174742/http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/tertiary |date=2014-11-06 }}". James Cook University.</ref> Some tertiary sources can be used as an aid to find key (seminal) sources, key terms, general [[common knowledge]]<ref name="newhaven">"[http://libguides.newhaven.edu/content.php?pid=465151&sid=3809011 Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Resources]". University of New Haven.</ref> and established [[mainstream science]] on a topic. The exact definition of ''tertiary'' varies by [[Academic discipline|academic field]]. | A '''tertiary source''' is an index or textual consolidation of already published [[Primary source|primary]] and [[secondary source]]s<ref name="umd">[https://guides.lib.odu.edu/informationliteracytutorials 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> that does not provide additional interpretations or analysis of the sources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.odu.edu/genedinfolit/1infobasics/tertiary_information_sources.html|title=Tertiary Information Sources|date=September 2012|publisher=Old Dominion University -- ODU Libraries|access-date=20 June 2013|archive-date=6 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906194053/http://www.lib.odu.edu/genedinfolit/1infobasics/tertiary_information_sources.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=JCU>"[http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/tertiary Tertiary sources] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106174742/http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/tertiary |date=2014-11-06 }}". James Cook University.</ref> Some tertiary sources can be used as an aid to find key (seminal) sources, key terms, general [[common knowledge]]<ref name="newhaven">"[http://libguides.newhaven.edu/content.php?pid=465151&sid=3809011 Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Resources]". University of New Haven.</ref> and established [[mainstream science]] on a topic. The exact definition of ''tertiary'' varies by [[Academic discipline|academic field]]. | ||
[[Research|Academic research]] standards generally do not accept tertiary sources such as [[encyclopedia]]s as citations,<ref name="newhaven" /> although [[survey article]]s are frequently cited rather than the original publication. | [[Research|Academic research]] standards generally do not accept tertiary sources such as [[encyclopedia]]s as citations,<ref name="newhaven" /> although [[survey article]]s are frequently cited rather than the original publication. | ||
== Overlap with secondary sources == | == 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.<ref name="umd"/> This causes some difficulty in defining many sources as either one type or the other. | As is also the case with distinguishing primary and secondary sources in some disciplines,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kragh |first1=Helge |title=An Introduction to the Historiography of Science |date=1989 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0-521-38921-6 |pages=121 |url=https://books.google.ie/books?id=OX7d7u_2rF4C&pg=PA121&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false |access-date=28 November 2025}}</ref> there is not always a clear distinguishing line between secondary and tertiary sources. 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"/> This causes some 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.<ref name="umd"/><ref name=JCU /> | In some academic disciplines, the differentiation between a secondary and tertiary source is relative.<ref name="umd"/><ref name=JCU /> | ||
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==Types of tertiary sources== | ==Types of tertiary sources== | ||
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2021}} | {{More citations needed section|date=May 2021}} | ||
Tertiary sources can come in book form or as an online resource. Tertiary sources in book form are frequently organised in alphabetical order, whereas an online tertiary source may be searchable by keyword.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
[[Bibliographic index|Indexes]], [[Bibliography|bibliographies]], [[Concordance (publishing)|concordances]], and [[Database#Research|databases]] are aggregates of primary and secondary sources and therefore often considered tertiary sources. They may also serve as a point of access to the full or partial text of primary and secondary sources. [[Almanac]]s, [[guide book|travel guides]], [[field guide]]s, and [[timeline]]s are also examples of tertiary sources. | Examples of tertiary sources include; reference books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, some [[textbook]]s,<ref name="umd" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Bombaro |first=Christine |title=Finding History: Research Methods and Resources for Students and Scholars |date=2012 |publisher=Scarecrow Press, Incorporated |isbn=978-0-8108-8379-6 |edition=1st |location=Lanham, MD |pages=57}}</ref> abstracts, directories, factbooks, handbooks, manuals<ref>{{cite book |last1=Harris, Bitonti, Fleisher, Binderkrantz |title=The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Interest Groups, Lobbying and Public Affairs |date=2022 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9783030445553 |page=1345 Switzerland |edition=1 |url=https://www.google.ie/books/edition/The_Palgrave_Encyclopedia_of_Interest_Gr/32J2EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=tertiary+sources+definition&pg=PA1345&printsec=frontcover |access-date=28 November 2025}}</ref> and [[compendium|compendia]]. [[Bibliographic index|Indexes]], [[Bibliography|bibliographies]], [[Concordance (publishing)|concordances]], and [[Database#Research|databases]] are aggregates of primary and secondary sources and therefore often considered tertiary sources. They may also serve as a point of access to the full or partial text of primary and secondary sources. [[Almanac]]s, [[guide book|travel guides]], [[field guide]]s, and [[timeline]]s are also examples of tertiary sources. | ||
Tertiary sources attempt to summarize, collect, and consolidate the source materials into an overview without adding analysis and synthesis of new conclusions. | |||
[[Wikipedia]] is a tertiary source.<ref>{{cite web |title=Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources |url=https://crk.umn.edu/library/primary-secondary-and-tertiary-sources |access-date=19 April 2023 |publisher=[[University of Minnesota Crookston]]}}</ref> | [[Wikipedia]] is a tertiary source.<ref>{{cite web |title=Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources |url=https://crk.umn.edu/library/primary-secondary-and-tertiary-sources |access-date=19 April 2023 |publisher=[[University of Minnesota Crookston]]}}</ref> | ||
Latest revision as of 03:56, 16 December 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Script error: No such module "For". A tertiary source is an index or textual consolidation of already published primary and secondary sources[1] that does not provide additional interpretations or analysis of the sources.[2][3] Some tertiary sources can be used as an aid to find key (seminal) sources, key terms, general common knowledge[4] and established mainstream science on a topic. The exact definition of tertiary varies by academic field.
Academic research standards generally do not accept tertiary sources such as encyclopedias as citations,[4] although survey articles are frequently cited rather than the original publication.
Overlap with secondary sources
As is also the case with distinguishing primary and secondary sources in some disciplines,[5] there is not always a clear distinguishing line between secondary and tertiary 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 some 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.[6]
Types of tertiary sources
Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Tertiary sources can come in book form or as an online resource. Tertiary sources in book form are frequently organised in alphabetical order, whereas an online tertiary source may be searchable by keyword.[7]
Examples of tertiary sources include; reference books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, some textbooks,[1][7] abstracts, directories, factbooks, handbooks, manuals[8] and compendia. Indexes, bibliographies, concordances, and databases are aggregates of primary and secondary sources and therefore often considered tertiary sources. They may also serve as a point of access to the full or partial text of primary and secondary sources. Almanacs, travel guides, field guides, and timelines are also examples of tertiary sources.
Tertiary sources attempt to summarize, collect, and consolidate the source materials into an overview without adding analysis and synthesis of new conclusions.
Wikipedia is a tertiary source.[9]
See also
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ a b c d Primary, secondary and tertiary sources. Script error: No such module "webarchive".". University Libraries, University of Maryland. Retrieve 07/26/2013
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b "Tertiary sources Script error: No such module "webarchive".". James Cook University.
- ↑ a b "Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Resources". University of New Haven.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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