Information Formats

And Their Characteristics

Questions about this activity? Contact Kimberley Stephenson at kstephenson@apu.edu

• This brief presentation will help you understand the differences between information formats, so that you can choose the appropriate online research tools.

Introduction

• There are essentially three categories of scholarly information: books, journal articles, and so-called “grey literature”—anything that appears outside “traditional” publishing channels, including dissertations/theses, reports, presentations, manuals, Web sites, etc.

• In the next few slides, we’ll examine these formats in more detail.

Introduction

• Books are a scholarly format familiar to most people. But did you know that there are different types of scholarly books?

• A book on a library shelf may be one of three types: a reference book, a monograph, or an edited volume.

• Reference books (encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, directories) contain background information about a variety of topics, and are not designed to be read all the way through.

Books

• Reference books are a good place to start your research, as they offer brief overviews of your topic, and will usually direct you to additional sources.

• Monographs are usually written by one author on a single topic.

• Edited volumes contain chapters addressing a general theme. Each chapter is written by a different author, then compiled into one volume by an editor.

Books

• Although these three types of books are quite different in scope and purpose, there are some common features.

• Books are often quite lengthy, which generally means that they cover issues thoroughly and provide lots of background information. This is especially true of scholarly monographs.

• Second, books often take a long time to move from the writing stage to the library shelf. This long process often means that the information in books is historical in nature.

Books

• Unlike books, which are generally published once and occasionally re-published in new editions, periodicals are information formats that are published with new content on a regular basis.

• The contents within these periodicals are called articles.

Articles

• Although the key distinction of periodicals is that they are published on a regular basis, they do appear with varying frequency.

• For example, articles could be published daily in a newspaper or Web site, weekly/monthly in a magazine, or quarterly in a scholarly journal.

• Because articles are generally shorter than books, and published more frequently than books, they are generally more likely to contain current information than books.

Articles

• Periodicals may be “popular” or “scholarly.”• Facts about popular sources (i.e., magazines):

– Articles are intended for a broad, general audience.– Articles are usually written by people who work for the

publisher and who may or may not have training in the field they discuss.

– Articles are often illustrated and appear alongside advertisements. They are intended to help sell the magazine, as well as to inform the public.

– The editor and publisher are the only people who judge the articles before they are printed. Articles may reflect the opinions of the editor or publisher.

Articles

• Facts about scholarly sources (i.e., journals):– Articles focus on a specific subject and address a

specialized audience.– Articles are written by one or more authors with

knowledge of and training in the field or discipline.– Articles are presented in a specific way, often

headed by abstracts and with cited references, and are usually not illustrated, although there may be charts, graphs, or tables.

– Scholarly journals do not usually contain advertising, because their publication costs are covered by membership and subscription fees.

Articles

• Visual/contextual clues can help you determine whether an article is popular or scholarly:– Length: Scholarly articles are usually lengthy and

detailed; popular articles are often short.– Bibliography: Scholarly articles always cite sources;

popular articles usually do not.– Author information: Scholarly articles list the author’s

name and background; popular articles may not.– Physical appearance: Popular articles usually contain

ads and photographs; scholarly articles usually don’t.

• If in doubt, ask a librarian whether a particular article is considered scholarly.

Articles

• In general, the term “grey literature” describes scholarly content that is not published through traditional book or periodical channels.

• Grey literature is often produced by government agencies and universities, and can include such diverse formats as dissertations/theses, reports, presentations, manuals, pamphlets, and Web sites.

• Grey literature is often difficult to locate—but librarians can help you track down these obscure sources.

Grey Literature

• In this tutorial, we’ve covered:– Books;– Articles; and– Grey literature, including Web information.

• Remember that you can contact a librarian any time for help with any of these steps. Just visit our Research Help page for more information.

Summary