Researching a Topic

Researching a Topic

February 1, 2021

Are you familiar with Mount Mayon? It is considered as one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. Also, it is usually called as the volcano with the most perfect cone.

Using your background knowledge, provide other descriptions about Mount Mayon. Do you know how and why volcanic eruption occurs?

Poll

Using the given scenario above, choose at least three (3) materials that you will most likely use in researching for additional information

about the given topic.

• newspaper

• websites

• books

• video clips

• images

Researching about a given topic can be a daunting task especially when you have zero knowledge as to where to get every bit

of information you need. There are various ways and means to obtain needed information including the use of print-based materials like newspapers and magazines or through electronic sources like websites and online databases. Generally, sources of information may be classified as primary, secondary and tertiary sources. It is essential to understand these classifications and identify which one is appropriate for your research topic.

Primary Sources

Primary sources of information include firsthand accounts and other original materials on which other researches are based.

These are authentic materials and have not been evaluated or assessed. These include original works like poems, diaries, court records, interviews, surveys, and original research.

Secondary Sources

Sources of information are classified as secondary sources when they describe, interpret or analyze primary sources.

These are often information written by authors who did not personally witness an event or occurrence. Common examples of these are textbooks, magazine articles, book reviews, commentaries and almanacs.

Tertiary Sources

Sources of information are considered tertiary sources when they are used to organize and locate primary and secondary sources.

This classification includes indexes, abstracts, bibliographies, directories and databases.

It is also important to understand that definitions of each source type may vary from one context to another.

Likewise, it is essential to take note of certain guideposts when using information gathered for activities like researching a topic, among others. Remember that information should always be accurate, reliable, up-to-date, consistent, relevant and unique.

Let's have a short quiz!

Identify if the given item is a primary, secondary, or tertiary source. 

^_^

Multiple Choice

textbooks

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

Multiple Choice

court records

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

Multiple Choice

surveys

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

Multiple Choice

dictionaries

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

Multiple Choice

studies/researches published in academic journals

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

Multiple Choice

magazines

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

Multiple Choice

abstracts

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

Multiple Choice

indices

• Primary

• Secondar

• Tertiary

Multiple Choice

newspapers

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

Multiple Choice

diaries

• Primary

• Secondary

• Tertiary

GOOD JOB!

Remember this:

Primary Sources are firsthand accounts, raw data, and other original materials on which other researches are based.

Secondary Sources describe, interpret or analyze primary sources, written or presented by authors who did not personally witness an event or occurrence

Tertiary Sources organize and locate primary and secondary

sources.