My ContentPrimary Information SourcesDocumentary SourcesPrimary SourcesCharacteristics of Primary SourcesExamples of Primary Sources Theses and Dissertation Periodicals Serials Patents Standards Specification Research Monographs Proceedings of meeting, conferences Symposia Trade Literature Research Reports Newsletter State of the Art Report
Primary Information Sources
Documentary Sources
Documentary sources of information are basically "documentary" in nature. They are derived from or pertaining to documents and are records relating to individuals or groups of individuals. These records have been generated by people in the course of their daily lives. Ex. Encyclopedia, dictionaries, manuals, textbooks, etc. Based on the originality of the materials documentary sources can be categorized into three categories.
A. Primary Sources
Primary source are first hand and original material. This type of information is from the time period, involved and has not been filtered through any interpertation. They are usually the f irst formal appearance of results in physical, print or electronic format on which other researches are based.
Characteristics of Primary Sources
The following are the characteristics of primary sources :
i. Primary sources are first hand and original materials.
ii. Primary sources are the original sources of information on which other research is based, such as surveys, interviews, fieldwork, original articles etc.
iii. These constitute the latest available information.
iv. Primary sources consist of new knowledge or new in of old knowledge.
v. They present information in its original form, not interpreted or condensed or evaluated by other writers, primary sources contain raw, original and unevaluated information.
vi. They present original report on discoveries or share new information such as a report of scientific work.
vii. They come as first-hand information from the source or person.
viii. They are unfiltered through interpretation or evaluation.
ix. They are records of a first hand observation of an event, original work of fiction, art etc.
x. Information is scattered and widely dispersed in many sources.
Examples of Primary Sources
The following are example of primary sources
i. Government document.
ii. Patents
iii. Standard
vi. Journal articles
v. Autobiographies, diaries and memoirs
vi. Speeches
vii. Technical reports
viii. Web internet : Website that publishes the authors finding or research internet communication on E-mail, etc.
ix. Survey research x. Proceeding of meetings, conferences and symposa
xi. Dissertation/theses xii. Historical documents
xiii. Films, photographs, video. records ( eg. TV shows)
xiv. Work of art, music, architecture, literature
xv. Newspaper articles
xvi. Research reports, reporting results generated by experiments, Research monograph
xvii. Trade literature
xviii. Specification
xix. Manuscripts
i. Theses and Dissertation
Author important category of scientific communication is the postgraduate / M. Phil dissertation and doctoral theses, submitted to universities for the awards of degree. They are valuable and primary sources of research results, reporting the original research work in specific fields.
ii. Periodicals
Publications appearing at regular or irregular continuity are known as periodical or serial publications. The synonymous terms used are the journals or magazines, though theses have different connotations. One common feature of these publications is that these are not one-time publications like books. It is a different matter that books have reprints or now editions.
iii. Serials
Serials contain more recent facts and opinions than books, which often take several years to be published. Contents of serials may include articles, letters, statistical data, news items, books reviews, job advertisements etc.
iv. Patents
A patents is "a government grant of exclusive privilege of making or selling new inventions, process, so protected." In other words, patent is granted exclusive rights to operate the process or use the product for the limited time period and have the sole right for the monetary gains.
v. Standards
The need to measure up to a certain level of quality and efficiency in products and services is felt both in the public and private institutions. Standardization was initially done only of material commodities but later considered for services and procedures of all kinds. The awareness to maintain high quality and technological developments has helped to access durability and : performance levels.
vi. Specification
They are usually purchase documents that contain descriptions of technical requirements for a products, material, process, or service, which are designed to meet the purchaser's particular needs. They consist of specific description by preparation and use of his invention, Autobiographies.
vii . Research Monographs
Research monograph are Separately Published reports on original research that are too long, too specialized or otherwise unsuitable for publication in one of the standard journals. Each monographs is self-contained frequently summarizes existing theory or practice before presenting the authors original and previously unpublished work, and is likely to be one of a series of such research monograph in the same field. It is a short treatise it differ from the treatise in the sense that it is a work done on a more limited scale. Eg creativity and the prepared mind by Ray Hyman (National Art Education Association research monographs, 1 ), Washington, DC, National Art Education Association. Technical Reports.
viii. Proceedings of meeting, conferences Symposia
Presentation of papers at local, National and International Conference has been one of the most important methods of dissemination scientific information. Nascent R and D information can be communicated more rapidly and directly through conference papers than through papers published in journals on the average, paper are presented at national conference about one year prior to their publication in journals.
ix. Trade Literature
Information, which is in the form of product categories, information on processer and materials, guides, manuals, house journals etc. the main purpose of which is product advertisement is also a source of primary information. This literature provides technical information about products or materials offered for sale by the manufacturers, Newspaper article.
x. Research Reports
Research report form a very important component of primary sources of information. Research reports are the unpublished reports of sponsored research. The contractor, or grantee, is usually required to submit periods reports to grantor (government, academic or industrial) regarding the progress of his work. These reports are not printed initially in any periodical rather they are duplicated for distribution either on request or to a mailing list. They are frequently issued in series, each containing a single report or review.
xi. Newsletter
Newsletter is a publication issued by an organization often simple in format and crisp in style to provide speedy information for a definite audience. Newsletters are always issued regularly and have a short life span. It is a modest publication containing limited pages say four to eight and a few picture and illustrations. Generally, the organisations that do not go for house journals fin a good substitute in newsletters. While some newsletters are intended for the employees, others are meant for the external public.
xi. State of the Art Report
These are types of reviews which do not have all embracing scope and historical orientation. These present information assembled from various sources and subjects to the operation of analysis, consolidation, extraction and evaluation, in a formal presentation representing the most advanced degree of technical achievement in its field at the present time. Some owe their existence to a specific query while others are issued on a regular basis, in many cases once in a year, state of the art report emphasizes on the recent and up-to-date ideas.
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