Academic sources

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Information Types
Academic Sources of Information

To support your academic writing you will be expected to use a wide variety of resources. These are often referred to as academic sources or scholarly texts. Some of this material will be included on your reading list but you will also be expected to look beyond this list to find evidence to support your academic work. Using a variety of resources will help you develop a broad understanding of the topic, explore different points of view and ensure your work is informed by reliable and relevant evidence.

This guide provides an overview of the different types of resources available.

Information Types

There are three main types of information you will use in your academic work - primary, secondary and tertiary.

Primary Sources of information are the original accounts of research or of an event created at the time it occurred. Primary sources include original research published in articles in academic journals, speeches, interviews, artifacts, an original creative work, diaries, letters and photographs.

Secondary Sources offer an evaluation or analysis of primary sources. These sources could provide an overview, interpretation, commentary or critique of a subject and may refer to original material. Secondary sources include articles or books that do not report on new research but offer an interpretation.

Tertiary Sources collect, index or categorise information from primary and secondary sources. They often provide information in a convenient format. Examples include dictionaries, encyclopeadias, indexes and abstract sources.

When deciding which sources to use think about using information from a variety of suitable academic material.

Academic Sources of Information

Academic textbooks are useful for providing an overview of a subject. They are usally written or edited by subject experts or professionals in thier field and have been through a proces of review to ensure accuracy. They contain a reference list or bibliography so that you can find other academic resources.

Wrexham University has both print and eBooks. These can be found by searching the Library Catalogue - Resource Finder.

Have a look at our page on finding books and eBooks for more information.

Journals are academic publications published periodically and include articles reporting on research findings and academic discussion.

A journal is made up of individual journal articles.

Journal articles are:

Peer-reviewed - evaluated by experts before publication
Based on evidence
Written by researchers and experts

Academic journal articles often refer to other research and will inlcude a reference list or bibliography so that you can explore a subject further through other research.

The majority of journal articles can be found by searching the library catalogue - Resource Finder. Our pages on Finding journal articles has more information.

The Internet can be a useful source of information. It is easy to access and can provide current information. It is useful for accessing reports and other information from official organisations such as government departments.

However, the vast quantity of information available can mean that it can be difficult to find the quality information you need to support your academic writing. You should always critically evaluate the information you find. Here are some things to consider:

The Internet is open to all and anyone can create a website and publish information, not all of which will be accurate or reliable.
Information can quickly become out of date - check the date when a website was created or the information published.
Evaluate the information for potential bias

When looking for information online you could use Google Scholar to search for academic information.

You can also download one of our browser extensions - LibKey Nomad or Lean Library to help you access full-text content when searching online.

Reports from official organisations or government departments can be a useful source of information. They are the documents produced by Government and include parliamentary papers and department publication. They will cover a wide range of subjects and aspects of the work undertaken by Government.

Official documents can be found on the Government website, or by searching online.

Using statistical evidence in your academic writing will involve presenting numbers to support the point that you are making. Ensure that the source of the statistics is reliable, and that you include a citation.

The Office for National Statistics collects and shares statistics relating to the UK and covers subjects including business, the economy, employment and the population.

Accessing Resource Finder

Resource Finder is Wrexham University's library catalogue. It allows you to search for physical material including print books and journals in the library, and for online resources such as eBooks and articles.

Resource Finder can be accessed from My Uni Portal by clicking on this tile: