When conducting research for academic papers and projects, you’ll encounter a variety of source types. While primary and secondary sources are essential for providing evidence and analysis, tertiary sources can be valuable tools for building foundational knowledge and navigating complex topics.

Let’s explore tertiary sources, provide examples, and offer guidance on how to identify and effectively utilize them in your research process.

What is a Tertiary Source?

A tertiary source is a work that synthesizes and distills information from primary and secondary sources. Tertiary sources do not typically contain new or original research. Instead, they compile and summarize information already published by other authors.

Some key characteristics of tertiary sources:

  • Provide overviews and background information on a topic
  • Combine and condense information from multiple primary and secondary sources
  • Aim to inform and instruct rather than analyze or argue a specific perspective
  • Often written by editors or subject matter experts rather than scholars conducting original research

Examples of Tertiary Sources

Common examples of tertiary sources include:

  • Encyclopedias: General encyclopedias like Encyclopedia Britannica or subject-specific encyclopedias provide concise summaries and explanations of topics.
  • Dictionaries and glossaries: These reference works define terms and concepts within a particular field or discipline.
  • Handbooks and manuals: Comprehensive guides that offer instructional information and overviews of processes or procedures.
  • Textbooks: Though textbooks may cite primary and secondary sources, they mainly present an overview of a subject for educational purposes.
  • Literature reviews: Published literature reviews synthesize and evaluate existing research on a particular topic, consolidating information from various primary and secondary sources.

How to Tell if a Source is Tertiary

Determining whether a source is tertiary can be tricky, as some tertiary sources may resemble secondary sources in their depth of coverage. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

  • Is the work summarizing or compiling information from other sources rather than presenting new research or analysis?
  • Is the author an expert or editor rather than a scholar conducting original research?
  • Is the purpose of the work to inform or instruct rather than argue a specific perspective?
  • Does the work provide an overview or background information rather than an in-depth analysis?
  • The source is likely tertiary if the answer to most of these questions is yes.

How and When to Use Tertiary Sources

Tertiary sources should generally not be your primary sources of evidence or analysis in academic writing. However, they can be incredibly useful in the following ways:

  • Gaining a broad understanding of a topic before delving into primary and secondary sources
  • Clarifying complex concepts or unfamiliar terminology
  • Identifying key primary and secondary sources for further research
  • Providing context and background information to support your analysis

When using tertiary sources, be sure to:

  • Prioritize reputable and well-regarded tertiary sources from credible publishers or institutions
  • Cross-reference information with primary and secondary sources to ensure accuracy
  • Cite tertiary sources properly according to your chosen citation style
  • Remember, tertiary sources should supplement and support your use of primary and secondary sources, not replace them entirely.

Practice Questions

To reinforce your understanding of tertiary sources, consider the following practice questions:

Which of the following would be considered a tertiary source? 

  1. A peer-reviewed journal article presenting original research 
  2. An encyclopedia entry on the history of the printing press 
  3. A firsthand account of the American Revolution 
  4. A Biography of Marie Curie

You are researching the concept of “emotional intelligence” for a psychology paper. Which source would be most appropriate for a general understanding of the topic before consulting primary and secondary sources? 

  1. A textbook chapter on emotional intelligence 
  2. A research study investigating the link between emotional intelligence and job performance 
  3. A literature review analyzing various theories of emotional intelligence 
  4. A scholarly article proposing a new model of emotional intelligence

True or False: Tertiary sources should be the primary sources of evidence and analysis in academic writing.

You are writing a paper on the history of the Renaissance. Which of the following would be considered a tertiary source? 

  1. The writings of Petrarch, an influential Renaissance scholar 
  2. A scholarly monograph analyzing the art and culture of the Renaissance 
  3. An encyclopedia entry summarizing the key events and figures of the Renaissance 
  4. Primary source documents like letters and diaries from the Renaissance period

True or False: Tertiary sources can be useful for finding additional primary and secondary sources to consult on a research topic.