Lesson 2 of 3
📚
What Is Information Literacy?
The Information Cycle
8 min 3 quiz questions
Information does not appear fully formed — it moves through a cycle from event to publication to archiving. Understanding this cycle helps you know what type of source to look for depending on your research need.
Stages of the Information Cycle
- Breaking News — Initial reports, often incomplete, from news outlets and social media (hours after an event)
- News Articles — More detailed reporting with context and quotes (days after)
- Magazine & Journal Articles — Analysis and commentary with broader perspective (weeks to months after)
- Books & Documentaries — In-depth treatment with full context and reflection (months to years after)
- Reference Works — Encyclopedias and databases that synthesize established knowledge (years after)
Research Tip
For current events, start with news sources. For academic research, peer-reviewed journals and books are more appropriate. Match your source type to your research purpose.
- Primary sources — Original, firsthand accounts (diaries, interviews, original research, speeches)
- Secondary sources — Interpretation or analysis of primary sources (textbooks, biographies, documentaries)
- Tertiary sources — Compilations of primary and secondary sources (encyclopedias, indexes, databases)
Example
A scientist's original research paper is a primary source. A textbook chapter summarizing that research is a secondary source. A database listing research papers on the topic is a tertiary source.
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