Tertiary source
A tertiary source is an index and/or textual condensation of primary and secondary sources.[1][2][3]
Some examples of tertiary sources are almanacs, guide books, survey articles, timelines, and user guides. Depending on the topic of research, a scholar may use a bibliography, dictionary, or encyclopedia as either a tertiary or a secondary source.[1]
As tertiary sources, encyclopedias and textbooks attempt to summarize and consolidate the source materials into an overview, but may also present subjective commentary and analysis (which are characteristics of a secondary source).
In some academic disciplines the distinction between a secondary and tertiary source is relative,[4][3] but in historiography it is absolute.
In the UNISIST model, a secondary source is a bibliography, whereas a tertiary source is a synthesis of primary sources.[5]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b University of Maryland Libraries (2001) "Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources"
- ^ Glossary, Using Information Resources
- ^ a b Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Sources - James Cook University
- ^ Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources, UM Libraries
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