LibGuides: ESL Undergraduate Student Guide: Select Sources and the Information Cycle

Select The Best Information Source

Use this graphic to select the best type of information source for your needs.

Select the Best Information Source (Accessible View)

Information is available via a wide variety of sources. Use the guidelines below to determine if a particular source is likely to meet your information needs.
Source	Best for	Intended Audience	Watch for/Consider
Newspapers	Newspapers are best for: Daily local, national, and international news, events, and editorial coverage Statistics and photojournalism Record of events and quotes from experts, officials, and witnesses	Newspapers are intended for a general audience	When using newspapers, you should watch for and consider that: Authors are usually not experts If a story is breaking, corrections to the initial report are likely The publication may have editorial bias
Popular magazines	Magazines are best for: Current information Short, easy to understand articles (including analysis, interviews, opinions, etc.) Photographs and illustrations	Magazines are intended for general audiences, or those with a specific, recreational interest (e.g. sports, fashion, sciences, etc.)	When using magazines, you should watch for and consider that: Authors are usually not experts Sources are not always cited The publication may have editorial bias
Professional/Trade Publications	Professional or Trade Publications are best for: Current information Specialized articles related to a particular discipline or profession (including context and analysis)	Professional or Trade publications are intended for professional organizations or professionals and scholars with similar interests	When using professional or trade publications, you should watch for and consider that: Articles vary between short and easy to lengthy and highly specific Sources are not always cited Has characteristics in common with both popular magazines and scholarly journals
Scholarly/Academic Journals	Scholarly/Academic journals are best for: In-depth research on a topic Focused, peer-reviewed articles written by experts Include data, statistics, charts, and graphs Include bibliographies of other sources	Scholarly/Academic journals are intended for scholars, researchers, professionals, and university students in a particular field	When using scholarly/academic journals, you should watch for and consider that: Terminology and/or data may be difficult for novices to understand
Books	Books are best for: Comprehensive overview of a topic Include background and historical context Include bibliographies of other sources	Books are intended for a variety of audiences, from general audiences through scholars.	When using books, you should watch for and consider that: Can include dated information Bias (dependent on author, publisher, etc.)
Websites	Websites are best for: News Government information Company information Alternate points of view	Websites are intended for a general audience	When using websites, you should watch for and consider that: Credibility and accuracy cannot always be assured Bias (dependent on author, publisher, etc.) Sources are not always cited

Understand the Information Cycle: VIDEO

Understanding the information cycle can be particularly important when you are searching for information about recent topics. Watch the video below to learn more.

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You can see the infographic and follow the instructions below.

Information Cycle Guide: INFOGRAPHIC

The Information Cycle
Learn about the information cycle and why it impacts your ability to find certain types of information about your topic.

Information Cycle Guide (Accessible View)

What is the Information Cycle?

The Information Cycle is the progression of media coverage of a particular newsworthy event. Understanding the information cycle will help you better know what information is available on your topic and better evaluate information sources covering that topic.

After an event, information about that event becomes available in a pattern similar to this:

THE DAY OF: Television, Social Media, and the Web (ex: CNN, Twitter, blogs)

THE WEEK OF: Newspapers (ex. New York Times, Chicago Tribune)

THE WEEK AFTER: Magazines (ex. Time, National Geographic)

MONTHS AFTER: Academic/Scholarly Journals (ex. The American Political Science Review, Journal of American Medical Association)

A YEAR AFTER & LATER: Books, Government Publications, and Reference Collections (Popular Titles, encyclopedias, government reports)