Secondary sources are good to find comparisons of different ideas and theories and to see how they may have changed over time. Review articles published in journals would also fall into this category. Tertiary Literature - Compilations, Handbooks, Encyclopedias These types of sources present condensed material, generally with references back to the source literature. They can be a good place to find data tables or to get an overview of a subject but they will not contain original research. Research papers published in scholarly journals will typically contain a review of the relevant literature, some background on the methods of the study, and a full discussion of the findings and their implications for further research.
Trade journals contain news and highlights within a given profession or industry.
And popular journal titles are the kind you might find at your local bookstore or public library that are designed to appeal to a broad audience. The next section discusses these three further, with special emphasis on the reliability of the information found in each. It is important to think about the reliability and objectivity of your sources. Scholarly journals generally have a thorough review process prior to publication. Recommended changes generally must be made before the journal will agree to publish the article, helping to ensure the quality of the final product.