Types of Sources
- Created by: R_S_E
- Created on: 22-06-14 11:36
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- Types of secondary sources to use for secondary research (PART 1)
- Textbooks
- Might be out of date and therefore inaccurate
- Check publication date and see if there are any updated versions
- Should have combined the research of others = cross references = reliabile
- Educational e.g. GCSE / A Level / Degree
- Can omit things to make it suitable for the age it is designed for
- Choose textbooks aimed at the highest level (A level and beyond)
- Designed for education purposes so should be accurate
- Only trying to inform not offer opinions (leaves that to student) so should b neutral = increased credibility
- Might be out of date and therefore inaccurate
- Academic Books
- By historians or those with an interest in Alexander: could be ebooks or hard copies
- Time consuming to read a lot
- Use the index to search for key words e.g. mentions of Alexander the Great to find the necessary bits of information for some
- Before reading make a list of what the book may be useful for and note down information while reading
- If an ebook use the search function to find relevant bits
- May be biased to the author's view point, for instance using the book to prove a theory they have = lessens the credibility as it may not be neutral
- See if any other authors have sited the book - if they have it shows that it is respected = increases credibility
- Use it in conjunction with other books so as to try and get a balanced view point
- See if other historians agree, if they do it increases the credibility
- The author should have a good reputation e.g. if their works have been sited in other academic journals = credible
- Publishing company (if one is used) wouldn't allow complete rubbish to be published = reputation = crediblie
- The author will have had a vested interest not to lie or distort the evidence as they wouldn't have wanted to damage their reputation = credible
- Should have accurate information
- They may have expertise in the field e.g. a PhD in Ancient History = credible
- The author should have a good reputation e.g. if their works have been sited in other academic journals = credible
- Should have accurate information
- They may have expertise in the field e.g. a PhD in Ancient History = credible
- Academic Journals
- Writeen by professional historians (or similar profession such as archaeology) and could include: hard copies, digital copies, blogs, in library archives
- They'll have expertise in the field e.g. a PhD in Ancient History = credible
- The author will have had a vested interest not to lie or distort the evidence as they wouldn't have wanted to damage their reputation = credible
- The author should have a good reputation e.g. if their works have been sited in other academic journals = credible
- All information should, therefore, be accurate and reliable
- The author will have had a vested interest not to lie or distort the evidence as they wouldn't have wanted to damage their reputation = credible
- They'll have expertise in the field e.g. a PhD in Ancient History = credible
- All information should, therefore, be accurate and reliable
- Could be biased to one view point (their own) and want to persuade others to it = lessens the credibility
- Use it in conjunction with a variety of other historians with different views
- See if other sources/historians agree with them, if they do it increases the credibility of the journal
- Could be difficult to understand - meant for a very high level
- Take time when reading and don't move on until the last bit is understood - Google any words not understood
- Likely have been peer reviewed which means means other academics have looked over it = likely to be reliable
- Textbooks
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