Atertiary source is an index or textual consolidation of already publishedprimary andsecondary sources[1] that does not provide additional interpretations or analysis of the sources.[2][3] Some tertiary sources can be used as an aid to find key (seminal) sources, key terms, generalcommon knowledge[4] and establishedmainstream science on a topic. The exact definition oftertiary varies byacademic field.
Academic research standards generally do not accept tertiary sources such asencyclopedias as citations,[4] althoughsurvey articles are frequently cited rather than the original publication.
As is also the case with distinguishing primary and secondary sources in some disciplines,[5] there is not always a clear distinguishing line between secondary and tertiary sources. Depending on the topic of research, a scholar may use abibliography,dictionary, orencyclopedia as either a tertiary or a secondary source.[1] This causes some difficulty in defining many sources as either one type or the other.
In some academic disciplines, the differentiation between a secondary and tertiary source is relative.[1][3]
In theUnited Nations International Scientific Information System (UNISIST) model, a secondary source is a bibliography, whereas a tertiary source is a synthesis of primary sources.[6]
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Tertiary sources can come in book form or as an online resource. Tertiary sources in book form are frequently organised in alphabetical order, whereas an online tertiary source may be searchable by keyword.[7]
Examples of tertiary sources include; reference books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, sometextbooks,[1][7] abstracts, directories, factbooks, handbooks, manuals[8] andcompendia.Indexes,bibliographies,concordances, anddatabases are aggregates of primary and secondary sources and therefore often considered tertiary sources. They may also serve as a point of access to the full or partial text of primary and secondary sources.Almanacs,travel guides,field guides, andtimelines are also examples of tertiary sources.
Tertiary sources attempt to summarize, collect, and consolidate the source materials into an overview without adding analysis and synthesis of new conclusions.
Wikipedia is a tertiary source.[9]
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