Tertiary sources offer a unique perspective and can be instrumental in establishing a solid foundation for your work. Let’s explore what defines a tertiary source, provide examples, and discuss how and when to effectively incorporate these sources into your research.
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 research, serving as reference materials that collate and distill key concepts and findings.
Common examples of tertiary sources include:
- Encyclopedias and dictionaries
- Handbooks and manuals
- Textbooks and course materials
- Bibliographies and literature reviews
- Fact-checking websites and databases
Tertiary sources are particularly valuable for gaining a broad understanding of a subject or topic, as they consolidate information from various authoritative sources. They can help you establish important context and background knowledge before delving deeper into primary and 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 multiple 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?
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 carefully examine the nature and intent of the information provided.
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 work. Use tertiary sources in the following ways:
- As starting points to gain background knowledge and context on your 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
You may briefly reference tertiary sources to establish initial framing or provide supplementary information when writing your paper or dissertation. However, most of your in-text citations and evidentiary support should come from primary research and authoritative secondary sources.
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.
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