Information Ecosystem
Information Purpose
Learning Objectives
- Match different types of sources to specific research needs, such as gaining background information, supporting an argument, or understanding different perspectives.
- Create a basic research plan that includes identifying information needs and selecting appropriate source types to sufficiently support those needs.
- Recognize how a thoughtful selection of diverse sources can enhance the depth and credibility of a research project, including the use of conflicting viewpoints.
Types of Information Sources
Information sources are everywhere, and you’ll often have many sources to choose from. In today’s information-rich world, nearly anything that provides information can serve as a potential source. The real challenge isn’t finding sources; it’s selecting the right ones for your needs. In this chapter, we will discuss common types of sources, their purpose or intent, and how best to use them. We will mainly focus on resources that have undergone a publishing process. It is important to remember that non-published sources like interviews, personal communication, lectures, and lived experience can also be useful for research or fulfilling an information need.
In the chart below, each of these types of sources has different content, is written by people with varying levels of expertise, and is written for different audiences. And each of these types of sources will have a different value for you, depending on the context and requirements of your research need. The next chapters in this section go in-depth on several of these source types.
| Type | Icon | Content and purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Websites |  |
Are versatile! Many categories of content can appear on websites. |
| Social media |  |
Allows anyone to share updates, opinions, and personal commentary. |
| News |  |
Provide up-to-date coverage on current events, editorials and opinions, and commentary for a general audience. |
| Magazines |  |
Offer feature stories, commentary, and long-form reporting on current events and general interest topics. |
| Government and NGO reports |  |
Include data, standards, statistics, and analysis from official agencies or organizations, often targeting policymakers or researchers. |
| Scholarly articles |  |
Present new research or analysis by scholars and written for an academic audience. |
| Scholarly books |  |
Explore academic topics in-depth, written by experts, generally for an academic audience. |
| Trade publications |  |
Report on industry news, trends, and products for practitioners and specialists in a field. |
| Multimedia sources |  |
Include films, TV, radio, podcasts, and more; often aimed at a general audience for entertainment or information. |
The Role of Sources in Research
Sources help you gain credibility with your audience and provide data, perspectives, and expert support. Even disagreeing sources can strengthen your project by showcasing well-rounded research.
Along with sometimes collecting your own data, meeting information needs through source collection is how you complete your project. Here are some of those needs:
- To learn more background information about your topic and research question
- To develop your research question(s)
- To describe the context surrounding your research question for your audience and explain why it’s important
- To report what others have said about your question, including any different answers to your research question
- To answer your research question(s)
- To convince your audience that your answer is correct or, at least, the most reasonable answer
Each need requires thoughtful source selection. Planning ahead ensures you gather the right materials and avoid last-minute stress.
Author’s Purpose
Understanding why an author created a source is key to critically evaluating the content. The author’s purpose determines what information is included, how it is presented, and what effect it aims to have on the audience. Staying mindful of the author’s intent not only sharpens your analytical thinking but also strengthens your academic writing by ensuring it is supported by credible, well-evaluated evidence. This insight can help you judge the reliability and usefulness of a source for your research.
Authors generally write with one or more of the following goals in mind:
- To Inform or Educate: These sources aim to explain facts, processes, or concepts. Examples include textbooks, academic articles, encyclopedias, and news reports.
- To Persuade: The goal is to influence readers’ beliefs or opinions, often through argumentation or emotional appeal. Think of opinion editorials, political speeches, advocacy websites, or advertising.
- To Sell Products or Services: These sources are designed to promote or market something. This includes commercials, sponsored blog posts, product descriptions, or infomercials.
- To Entertain: Entertainment-focused content seeks to amuse, engage, or provoke thought. This purpose is typical in novels, satire, personal blogs, and social-media content.
Most sources are not created with a single, pure purpose. For instance, a retailer’s blog post may aim to inform readers about skincare routines while subtly promoting their own products. Similarly, a political cartoon might entertain while also attempting to persuade viewers toward a particular viewpoint, and a documentary film can both inform and persuade by presenting facts through a specific lens. Recognizing these mixed motives is essential, as it helps you stay alert to potential bias or manipulation, even in sources that appear objective. Learn more about recognizing bias in the “Evaluating Sources” chapter of this book.
Informative or Educational Sources Typically Include:
- Well-researched facts and data
- Multiple viewpoints or balanced coverage
- Citations and references to credible sources
- Objective tone with minimal emotional or biased language
These are ideal for academic research, especially when building strong, evidence-based arguments. Prioritize sources that are informative and balanced, as they are most reliable for building a strong foundation in your work. Examples of informative or education sources include academic books and articles, journalism and reporting published in reputable sources, and government publications.
Persuasive-Only Sources May:
- Rely heavily on emotional language or loaded terms
- Present one-sided arguments with little room for alternative views
- Lack supporting evidence or proper citation
- Use cherry-picked data or misleading statistics
Such sources are less reliable for scholarly work, though they can be valuable for analyzing opinions, rhetorical strategies, or social influence. While persuasive or entertainment-based sources can be valuable, they should be used sparingly and always approached with a critical eye. Examples of persuasive only sources include advertising, editorials, political propaganda or campaign materials, and opinion pieces.
Be Aware! Content Marketing
You probably come across search-based content marketing all the time—even if you don’t realize it. Here’s how to spot it and think about it critically.
Content marketing often looks like a regular article you’d find on a trusted news site, but it’s created to promote a product or service. These pieces usually live on a company’s own website and are designed to look informative while also encouraging you to buy something.
To identify this kind of content, check the website name first. Does it sound familiar and trustworthy? Take a look at the navigation bar—if you see options like “Pricing” or “Features,” you’re likely on a company site rather than a news outlet. If the article recommends a product, double-check whether you’re on that product’s own site. It’s easy to mistake a marketing piece for an objective review.
This kind of advertising also shows up in online newspapers and magazines. It might appear as a typical story, infographic, or video, but it’s actually sponsored content. Because it’s designed to match the look and feel of the rest of the site, it can be easy to miss. Look for labels like “Sponsored,” “Promoted,” or “Ad” to tell the difference.
Final Tip: Make a Research Plan
Before diving into research, identify your information needs and think about what types of sources might meet them. Instead of randomly searching for sources, create a source checklist to stay focused and efficient. Having a plan helps you choose sources that truly meet your information needs. It saves time, reduces last-minute stress, and leads to better research. A clear plan also helps you know when you’ve found enough sources by checking if all your information needs are covered.
Reflection
- What types of information sources have you used recently (books, articles, websites, videos, etc.)? How did their content, purpose, and audience differ?
- How can you tell the difference between a source meant to inform and one meant to persuade or entertain? Why does this distinction matter when doing research?
- How does understanding an author’s intent help you decide whether or not to trust or use a source in your own research?
Attributions
This chapter contains material adapted from:
- Navigating Information Literacy Copyright © by Julie Feighery, used under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
- Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research (4th ed.) Copyright © 2015 by Teaching & Learning, Ohio State University Libraries, used under a CC BY 4.0 license
- Pot, J. (2022 April 9). How to spot content marketing in search results. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-spot-content-marketing-search/
