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Primary & Secondary Source Research

What are tertiary sources?

Tertiary sources compile, index, or organize other sources

  • Present condensed material, generally with references back to the primary and/or secondary literature
  • Useful to look up data or to get an overview of a subject
  • Rarely contain original material

Tertiary sources may include:

  • compilations
  • dictionaries
  • encyclopedias
  • handbooks
  • textbooks
  • Wikipedia articles