Information Cycle / Research Cycle

 

Information Cycle:  Order in which information sources are written.  Event leads to newspaper and magazine articles initially that give partial coverage by journalists but not analysis by scholars.  After time has passed, in-depth analysis by scholars comes in journal articles and then books/reference books.

           

Books (broad, academic coverage of topic)

Newspaper Articles / Internet (often too superficial, incomplete)

Magazine Articles (not academic coverage of a topic)

Reference Books (Encyclopedia Articles)

Journal Articles (more specific, scholarly coverage of topic)

Research Cycle:  Order in which YOU should consult the above sources when you are researching an event or topic; basically, the reverse of the information cycle.  To research an event or topic, start with the broadest analysis of it (the “big picture”) that gives analysis by scholars who have been able to spend ample time researching the issues involved.  Optional:  Then you can refer to the magazine and newspaper articles that were written by journalists shortly after the event, keeping in mind they have not researched the issues and their information is often partial or incomplete.  Most of the time you should leave out the magazines and newspapers if it is an academic paper you are writing.