Once you have a well-defined research topic, the next step is to decide on the type of information you need. Check the requirements of your assignment for information types you need to refer to in your paper. It also helps to think about the purpose of your paper and the audience you are writing for.
The University Library provides access through various discovery tools to a wide range of information sources including books, magazines, journal articles and financial data.
| Information type | Useful for... | Discovery tool |
|---|---|---|
| Books / reports |
Obtaining a general overview of a subject area
|
|
| Reference works | Getting an succinct summary of information on a particular subject | |
| Dissertations and theses |
Establishing whether research has been conducted into a certain topic.
|
|
| Journals |
Keeping up to date with the developments in a certain discipline.
|
|
| Journal articles | Looking for specific information about a particular topic. Journal articles are often very focused and aimed at publishing research results. | |
| Newspaper articles | Current awareness. Looking for news around a particular topic. | Databases |
| Financial data |
Creating data sets (collecting data) to support the conclusions of your research. |
via EDSC |
| Statistics | Creating data sets (collecting data) to support the conclusions of your research. |
via EDSC |
| Legislation | Offering support when solving legal cases. | Databases |
| Case law |
Judgments provide an insight into how rules and regulations are applied in practice. |
Databases |
Try matching information types with information needs.
This link opens in a new window