After you have determined the purpose of your report and identified the problem, you will

need to gather information to complete the report. As a report writer, you will need to
research all the information sources available in preparing the report so that you can make
decisions about which sources would be most appropriate. Sources of information are either
secondary or primary.

Once you have an idea of the type of information to seek while gathering information, you
must decide where to find it.

If we conduct information using primary or secondary source or both it makes the process
of gathering information and conducting research much easier.

What is a secondary source?
A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more
steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of
primary sources in them. Secondary sources provide information collected by other
investigators.
Secondary Sources
Secondary sources describe, discuss, interpret, comment upon, analyze, evaluate, summarize, and
process primary sources.
Some of the major secondary sources are:
LIBRARY CATALOG
The online catalog lists all books, films, tapes, disks, periodicals, and any materials on microfilm or microfiche in the
library. The catalog information will tell us the call number of each item and where it is located.. The catalog also usually
indicates whether the item is currently available or is checked out and due back on a certain date.

PERIODICAL INDEXES
Published articles about science, technology, and business topics are listed in periodical indexes.
A periodical index is a type of reference source that lists periodical articles by subject or author. If you
have a topic in mind, a periodical index can help you find articles about that topic. An index will point you
to the right periodical, the specific date or issue copy, and even the pages for a specific article. A
periodical index works like a subject catalog for the articles within a group of magazines and journals.
Parts of an Index
Searching mechanism: In a print index, the searching mechanism is simply an alphabetical list of
authors, titles, or subjects that refer to a master list of citations.
Citations: brief descriptions of an item that identify specific articles. No matter what kind of index you use,
citations follow a similar format and contain the same basic parts.
Parts of a Citation
The information appearing in an index about an article is called a citation. The citation usually includes:
1. Title of the article
2. Author's name or names if there is more than one author (sometimes a shorter article or news item has
no named author)
3. Title of the periodical. Some indexes label the periodical title as the "source" (abbreviated as "so")
because the periodical is the source for the article.
4. Volume and issue number of the periodical in which the article appears.
A volume often covers one year of publication and an issue is an individual copy within a volume.
A volume and/or issue may not be included.
5. Date of the periodical issue in which the article appears.
6. Pages on which the article appears.
7. Additional information about the article such as illustrations, maps, charts that appear in the article.
Sample Citations:
Here's an example of a citation from ArticleFirst, an online index that includes periodicals covering a wide
range of subjects. (ArticleFirst can be accessed through OCLC FirstSearch.)
Author(s): Keenan, Jeremy
Title: The theft of Saharan rock-art
Source: Antiquity. 74, no. 284, (2000): 287 (2 pages)
Additional Info: Antiquity Publications [etc.]
Alt Journal: Key Title: Antiquity
Standard No: ISSN: 0003-598X CODEN: ATQYAF
OCLC No: 1481624
ABSTRACT INDEXES
Abstract indexes provide summaries of published articles about science, technology and business. We
must read the abstract to decide whether the article contains the kinds of information we need.
Specialized abstract indexes include biological abstract, chemical abstract, computer abstract, electrical
and electronic abstract, geological abstract, mathematical reviews, microbiology abstract, nuclear science
abstract, and water resources abstract.

COMPANY DOCUMENTS
Company websites offer a variety of information, such as product descriptions, financial information,
annual report, products currently in development, names of divisions and officers and contact information.
Many company websites include a system whereby visitors can order printed aterial on various topics.
Some companies offer to answer email questions.

GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
The federal government maintains websites for all departments, such as the U>S Department of
Commerce.

From these sites, we can retrieve information sheets, statistics, technical reports, and newsletters. These
are updated regularly, so your will be the latest available.