Choose a relevant information sources

Different information is available in different sources so it is important to choose those which will provide relevant information. You may need to obtain information from more than one source for an assignment topic. The table below lists common sources useful to undergraduate students.

Source When to use
Reference Material Reference books, such as dictionaries, handbooks, encyclopaedias, directories, etc provide a starting point for your research. Many of these items are available as e-books. Reference material provides:

  • Background or introductory information;
  • Topic overviews;
  • Definitions;
  • Collections of facts;
  • Statistics and tables of data.
Books In addition to the print collection of books, an increasing number of e-books are becoming available through the UWS library. Books provide:

  • Broad and in-depth discussion on a topic;
  • Historical information;
  • Theories and facts.
Journals/newspapers Journals/newspapers (often referred to as serials or periodicals) are published on a regular basis, such as daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly. Journals are a useful source for new research and current information. Most journal titles are available online through the UWS library. You will need to use one of the many databases accessible through the library's web page or use Library Search box.
Web pages A web page is an electronic document available via the Internet. A group of related, interlinked pages is called a Web site. Some web resources are available free of charge, particularly those published by public authority, whilst others are subject to a fee. Finding information on the Internet can be easy or very difficult as there is so much information of varying quality.

Use web pages to:
  • Find government information;
  • Find company information;
  • Find images and multimedia;
  • Find statistics.


You are now ready to begin searching for information.