My Content

Secondary Sources

Types of Secondary Sources

Characteristics of secondary Sources

Example of Secondary Sources are

         Index

         Bibliographies

         Abstracting Periodicals

         Review

         Treatises

          Monographs

          Books

          Reference Books (also considered tertiary)

                    Dictionaries

                    Encyclopedia

                    Handbook

                     Tables

                    Manuals

                    Magazine and Newspaper articles

          Translations

          

                            Secondary Sources                        

 Secondary sources of information are those which are either compiled from or refer to primary sources of information. The original information having been casually modified selected or reorganized so as to serve a definite purpose for group of users. Such sources contain information arranged and organized on the basis of some definite plan. These contain organized repackaged knowledge rather than new knowledge. Information given in primary sources is made available in a more convenient form. 

 The scattered primary information is collected and arranged in the secondary sources in a systematic way. Secondary sources are the sources which are compiled from the primary sources. They analyse, interpret and discuss information about the primary sources. Information is not original, but it is analysed or interpreted.Secondary sources do not carry new and original information but guide the users to primary sources of information. They organise the primary sources in a convenient form. 

 "Bonn has divided the secondary sources into three types which are as below. 

                                                           Secondary Source 

 i. Index Type.                                  ii. Survey Type.                                               iii. Reference Type 

  a. index.                                         a. Review.                                                         a. Encyclopedia 

 b. Bibliography.                              b. Treatise.                                                        b. Dictionary 

 c. Indexing periodicals.                  c. Monograph.                                                   c. Hand book, Manual

 d. Abstracting.                                                                                                           d. Critical Tables

  Characteristics of secondary Sources                                                

 i. They do scribe, interpret, analyse and evaluate primary sources. 

 ii. They comment on and discuss the evidence provided by primary sources. 

 iii. Information in secondary sources is Systematically arranged and is easy to consult. 

 iv. Either compiled from or referred to primary sources. 

 v. Information given in primary sources are made available in a more convenient form in secondary sources. 

 vi. Generally, Secondary sources do not contain original information. They depend upon the primary sources for reporting and presenting information. 

 vii. In primary sources information is not arranged systematically where as in secondary source, especially in reference books, information is arranged in a systematic order ( e.g. It may be alphabetical classified) 

 viii. Secondary sources, especially reference books, are exclusively designed to answer specific queries. They are collection of million of facets. 

 ix. Reference books are used within the library and meant for consultation only. users are not allowed to borrow. x. Secondary sources contain a list of documents (bibliographies) at the end of the text. By furnishing the list, they guide the researchers back to the original sources. 

   Example of Secondary Sources are :                                                

 i. Reference books such as encyclopedia, dictionaries, Handbook, Manual, Critical table 

 ii. Textbooks 

 iii. Guide to literature 

 iv. Abstracting journals 

 v. Indexes 

 vi. Review of literature 

 vii. Monographs 

 viii. Bibliographies 

 ix. Some of the non-print material such as CD-ROMS 

 x. Translations 

 xi. Treatises. 

   i. Index   

 An index to a work contains an alphabetical list of name, topics, place, formulae, and title of any significant item refering to material presentation in the main part of the work. Sometimes, these items may be arranged chronologically, geographically or in some other way. A well compiled index adds to usefulness of a work. 

 An indexing periodical is a regularly issued compilation of titles of articles that appear in current primary sources journals, generally titles of new books, pamphlets are also included. 

   ii. Bibliographies   

 A bibliography is an original list of primary or other sources usually arranged alphabetically by author or chronologically or topic wise. It may be comprehensive or selective sometimes, it may be provided with annotations. It may be published as a part of a larger work or as a separate work. The basic aim of a bibliography as to assist the users in locating the existence of or identifying a book or any other material which may be interest to him. A well prepared bibliography provides a definite coverage of documents over a period of time within specified limits. Thus, it also serves the purpose of retrospective searching of literature. 

   iii. Abstracting Periodicals   

 Abstracting periodicals cover a large number of periodicals on the subject and its related fileds, irrespective of language. They provide modern libraries with ample facilities to collect and disseminate information on articles published in a wide range of periodicals, all of which cannot be possessed.

 Abstracts appear in different formats. The best known format for abstracting services is periodical. An abstracting periodical "is a regularly issued compilation of concise summaries of (i) significant articles (often in a very limited subject field) that appear in current primary sources journals and (ii) important new research monographs, reports, patents and other primary source publication in that field. 

 An abstracting periodical serve as an index, a tool for retrival of information on a specific subject. However indexing periodicals are earlier to appear than abstracting Periodicals. 

   iv. Review   

 A review is a survey of the primary literature. It aims to digest and corredate the literature over a given period. A review provides background information to a new problem in a suitable form and serves as a key to literature. It also indicates the developments and trends in the field concerned. 

  v. Treatises   

 A treatises is a comprehensive compilation or summary of information on a subject a treatise on a subject provides enough information to a person to acquire basic knowledge, so assential for carrying out advanced research. It also provides facts, along with discussion. The fact may include physical constants methods of preparation and purification of compounds etc. Usually, it is limited to a broad field. Due to the very nature, these become out of date within a short period of time. 

   vi. Monographs   

 A research monograph may be defined as "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 contain frequently summarizes existing theory or practice before presenting the authors ordinal and previously unpublished work, and is likely to be one of a series of such research monographs in the same field. Its scope is narrower than that of a treatise and embodies result of seminal research. 

   vii. Books   

 A book is a physically independent document other than a periodical publication that is, it has been completed or has been intended to be completed in a definite number of volumes. It is a macro document. As per the norms of UNESCO, a book should have at least 49 pages, 22 to 32 cm hight and 1.5 to 4 cm thickness. 

   viii. Reference Books (also considered tertiary)   

 Reference, works, which contain the desired information itself, are considered secondary sources of information. These include encyclopedia, dictionaries, hand book, tables, formularies, these form an important part of secondary sources of information. The sources of ready reference books are as follows 

   a. Dictionaries   

 A dictionary is a book, which deals with words of a language or of some special subjects, authors etc. Thus a dictionary is a workbook. Although a dictionary is supposed to deal with words but often it may go beyond this. 

   b. Encyclopedia   

 An encyclopedia is a book giving information on all branches of knowledge or a specific subject. It is an ideal book, which deals with concepts. An encyclopedia is a storehouse of knowledge giving all information of significance. However, It is best used for finding answers to background questions related to general information and self-education. One often turns to encyclopedias for one's everyday information requirements. This is also true of scientists and technologists. 

   c. Handbook   

 A handbook is a compilation of miscellaneous information in a compact and handy form. It contains data, procedure principles, including, tables, graphs, diagrams and illustratation. Scientists and technologists use handbooks in their fields rather frequently. 

   d. Tables   

Many of the handbook contain data in the form of tables. Some of the handbooks devote substantial portion of the work to tables as compared with text. Tables are convent form to present data. There are exteremely useful in Science. 

   e. Manuals   

 In common practice, a manuals is an instruction book, which instructs how to do something by means of specific and clear directionis. 

   f. Magazine and Newspaper articles   

 A news article is an article published in a print of internet news medium such as a newspaper, Newsletter news magazine, news oriented website, or article directory that discusses current or recent news of either general interest (i.e. daily newspaper) or on a specific topic (i.e. Political or trade or news magazines, club newsletters, or technology news website) 

   ix. Translations   

 Translation are an important part of secondary sources. Their characteristics are the same as those of primary or secondary or tertiary sources from which these are translated. Many of the authors of research papers prefer to cite original sources rather than translations.

                                                                     Notes                                                                

                                                                     Question