College of Education

School of Continuing and Distance Education

2014/2015 – 2016/2017

INFS 321

Information Sources

Session 1 – Introduction to Information Sources

Lecturer: Prof. Perpetua S. Dadzie, DISContact Information: pdadzie@ug.edu.gh

godsonug.wordpress.com/blog

Session Overview

Slide 2Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Information sources or reference sources help toanswer frequently asked questions or challengingquestions about what is happening in ourenvironment or even what happened some time ago.

At the end of the session, the student will be able to

•Explain what reference sources are

•Identify main classification of reference sources

Session Outline

Slide 3Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

The key topics to be covered in the session are asfollows:

•Topic One : Definition of reference sources

•Topic Two : Classification of reference sources -Documentary sources

•Topic Three: Classification of reference sources -Non-documentary sources

Reading List

Slide 4Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

• Kumar, Krishan (2006) Reference Service 5th

ed. Delhi: Vikas Publishing House

• Katz, A. William (2002) Introduction toReference, Work Vols. I & II, 8th ed.

Topic One

DEFINING REFERENCE SOURCES

Slide 5Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

What are Reference sources?

• Harrod͛s LiďrariaŶs͛ Glossary aŶd RefereŶĐe Book defiŶes refereŶĐe sourĐe as ͞aŶy ŵaterial, puďlished ǁork, database, website, etc, which is used to obtainauthoritatiǀe iŶforŵatioŶ.͟

Reference sources:

• contain miscellaneous information. That is, they containdifferent information on various subjects.

• not meant to be read from cover to cover.

• consulted as and when necessary. For example, if youneed ŵeaŶiŶg of ǁord ͚irk͛ you ǁill go straight to ͚I ͛ seĐtioŶ iŶ a dictionary

Slide 6Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

What are Reference sources 2?

References sources:

•separated from regular collection (that is, print sources in alibrary).

•References sources placed in special section usually calledReference department/section to enable Reference Librarianhave easy access to collection.

•Reference Department/section is where library staff comesinto direct contact with patrons of library to help themidentify sources of information in response to their questions,interests, assignments.

•Currently, libraries provide remote assistance via telephone,email, social media

Slide 7Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Topic Two

CLASSIFICATION OF REFERENCESOURCES- DOCUMENTARYSOURCES

Slide 8Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Documentary Sources

• Reference sources may be classified according toDocumentary and Non-Documentary Sources

• Documentary sources - information sources whichinclude primarily books, periodicals and newspapers

• Three types: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sources.

Primary sources• First published records of original research and

development• Description of new application or new interpretation of

anold theme or idea• Unorganized sources difficult to use by themselves• Subject becomes a discipline when independent primarysources begin to be produced in that areaSlide 9Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Documentary Sources 2

Uses of Primary sources•Aid researchers to keep themselves up-to-date and wellinformed of new developments•Avoid duplication in research•Help others to build on this by means of further workPrimary sources published in variety of forms•Journal article, research monograph, research report,patent, standards, dissertation, trade literature,unpublished sources eg, laboratory notebooks,memoranda, diaries

Slide 10Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Documentary Sources 3

Secondary sources

•Information either compiled from or refer to primary sources•Make available information contained in primarysources ina more convenient form

•Original information usually modified, selected orreorganized

•Contain organized repackaged knowledge rather than newknowledge

•More easily and widely available

•Serve as bibliographical key to primary sources ofinformation

Slide 11Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Documentary Sources 4

Secondary sources

•Examples: Indexes, Indexing periodicals, Abstractingperiodicals, Reviews, Treatises, Monographs, Textbooks,Reference books, Encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks,Manuals, Tables, Translations

•Tertiary Sources

•Information distilled and collected from primary andsecondary sources.

•To aid researcher in use of primary and secondary sources.

•Examples: Bibliography of Bibliographies, Guides toLiterature, Directories

Slide 12Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Topic Three

CLASSIFICATION OF REFERENCESSOURCES – NONDOCUMENTARY SOURCES

Slide 13Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Non-Documentary Sources

• Non-Documentary Sources form substantial part ofcommunication especially in science and technology.

• Provide information which other sources do not have.

• Two kinds: Formal and Informal.

• Formal sources include research organizations, societies,industries, government departments, universities,consultants.

• Informal sources include conversations with colleagues,visitors, attendance at professional meeting. Veryoften, the conversation or discussion would point outprimary or secondary sources.

Slide 14Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Non-Documentary Sources 2

• Informal sources are live sources which are extremelyimportant in the process of communication.

• Tend to be more convenient sources because easier tohave dialogue with expert than to use a bibliography orindex.

Conclusion

• Categorization information into Documentary and Non-Documentary sources based on characteristics ofdocuments.

• Takes into consideration related currency and accuracyof sources of information.

Slide 15Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Non-Documentary Sources 3

• Primary sources more current than secondary and tertiary.Primary sources generally more accurate than secondarysources due to the fact that these represent original ideas.

• However, in some cases a secondary or tertiary sourcemay correct errors, which might have occurred in aprimary source.

Slide 16Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Video

• Reference Materials Parts 1: Dictionary, Encyclopediaand

Thesaurus

• <iframe width="560" height="315"src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/48IKfyP-Nug"frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Slide 17Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

Activity

Visit any academic library and identify the following sources

Primary sources

•Journal articles, research monographs, research reports, patents,standards, dissertations, trade literature, unpublished sources eg,laboratory notebooks, memoranda, diaries

Secondary sources

•Indexes, Indexing periodicals, Abstracting periodicals, Reviews,Treatises, Textbooks, Reference books, Encyclopedias, Dictionaries,handbooks, Manuals, Tables, Translations

Tertiary sources

•Bibliography of Bibliographies, Guides to Literature, Directories

Slide 18Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS

References

• Kumar, Krishan (2006) Reference Service 5th ed. Delhi: VikasPublishing House. Ch. 9 pp. 115- 128

Slide 19Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS