Intro to Academic Research
Information Timeline
Before starting your research it is important to understand what types of information sources will be the most useful. Depending on your topic you may need current news coverage, articles from scholarly journals and magazines, books, information from other sources, or a combination of all of these resources. The information timeline, or information life cycle, can help you understand the process of how information is created and how it evolves over time. This will help you gain a better understanding about what types of sources will have the information you need for your research. It will also aid you in evaluating the content and accuracy of your sources.
Video Resources
- The Information Life Cycle by UNLV Libraries
- The Information Cycle by UCF Libraries
- The Information Cycle by Portland State University Library
An Event Occurs
When an event occurs, the information about that event progresses through an information timeline, or cycle, that ranges from reporting of the facts to the publication of scholarly literature.
Click on the icons below to explore the different stages of the information timeline.
Within Minutes
Social Media
- "Breaks" the story
- Info may be incomplete, false, or biased
Examples: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, blogs
Within Days
News Sites, TV, Radio, & Daily Newspapers
- As time passes, info gets added, updated, and verified
- Opinions emerge
Examples: CNN.com, MSNBC, BBC Radio, New York Times
Within a Week
Weekly Magazines
- Offers more insight
- Likely to include context information, interviews, and related topics
Examples: Time, Newsweek, People, The New Yorker
Within a Month
Monthly Magazines
- Additional time allows for better reporting
- May include opinions
Examples: Wired, Scientific American, National Geographic
Months Later
Scholarly Journals
- Written by experts
- Well-researched and objective
Examples: Journal of American Culture, Nature, JAMA
Year(s) Later
Books
- Benefit most from hindsight
- Give most in-depth coverage of topic
Examples: Nonfiction titles, biographies, textbooks, reference materials
