Understanding an information community means understanding how its members seek, share, and use information. Your research this semester is not just about gathering facts—it’s about uncovering the patterns, preferences, and needs that shape how your community interacts with information. To do that well, you’ll need to consult a range of information sources—each suited to a different stage in your research process.
This section introduces you to the types of sources commonly used in library and information science: reference materials for getting oriented, scholarly literature for identifying existing research and insights, and primary sources that help you hear directly from your community. As you move through your project, your goal is to build a nuanced picture of your chosen community’s information behavior—what motivates them to seek information, what barriers they encounter, what formats they prefer, and what gaps exist between their needs and the services available.
The better you understand the kinds of sources available—and how to use them strategically—the better equipped you’ll be to design services that truly meet the information needs of the community you’ve chosen to study.
Here are some easily digestible PDFs to assist you with understanding and identifying sources for INFO 200:
Identifying Information Sources Links to an external site.
This guide introduces the three main types of information sources—primary, secondary, and tertiary—and explains when and how to use each in your research. It also walks you through using databases, developing search terms, and selecting scholarly sources, all within the context of understanding the information behavior of your chosen community.
Peer Review in 3 MinutesLinks to an external site.
Students in INFO 200 are expected to gather peer-reviewed studies that explore information behaviors, structures, and needs within their selected or related communities. This video offers a foundational understanding of the peer-review system, which helps students: assess the credibility and rigor of articles they locate, differentiate between peer-reviewed literature vs. non‑scholarly or online content, and understand the publication standards that shape academic knowledge.
Distinguishing Scholarly and Professional ArticlesLinks to an external site.
Need help deciding whether an article is peer-reviewed? This handout compares scholarly (peer-reviewed) and professional publications across features like purpose, audience, language, references, and more. It includes examples of both types of journals in LIS and tips for verifying peer-review status.
INFO 200 Lib GuideLinks to an external site.
The INFO 200 Library Guide is your one-stop research portal, created by the SJSU King Library to support your work in this course. It highlights the most relevant databases for Library and Information Science (LIS), tips for searching effectively, citation support, and links to key resources like encyclopedias, journals, and professional organizations. Whether you’re just starting to explore your information community or diving into peer-reviewed research, this guide will help you find what you need.
LIS Lib GuideLinks to an external site.
This subject guide provides a high-level overview of key areas within the LIS field, including resources you may find useful throughout INFO 200. While the INFO 200 LibGuide is your primary resource for course-specific research strategies, this broader LIS guide offers additional context—highlighting resources and tools that support scholarly research and academic writing in the discipline. It’s a helpful supplement as you explore your chosen information community and begin your writing.