Why Wikipedia is a tertiary source?

Wikipedia is an encyclopedia Wikipedia’s main namespace is an encyclopedia and thus a tertiary source. Wikipedia avoids describing topics that never have been described before — doing otherwise qualifies as performing original research.

Is Wikipedia article a primary or secondary source?

Wikipedia, as an encyclopedia, is a tertiary source. However, Wikipedia and sources that mirror or source information from Wikipedia may not be used as secondary or tertiary sources. Wikipedia articles are sometimes used as primary sources in articles about Wikipedia.

Is Textbook a primary source?

A textbook can either be a secondary or tertiary source and, in seldom cases, a primary source. In most cases, the author of a textbook interprets prescribed theories of a topic and would, therefore, be a secondary source. A textbook can be a tertiary source when it simply indexes information about a particular topic.

What are secondary and tertiary sources?

Secondary sources describe, interpret or analyze information obtained from other sources (often primary sources). Examples of secondary sources include many books, textbooks, and scholarly review articles. Tertiary sources compile and summarize mostly secondary sources.

What do you mean by tertiary?

Definition of tertiary (Entry 1 of 2) 1a : of third rank, importance, or value. b chiefly British : of, relating to, or being higher education.

Is Britannica a tertiary source?

No, the Encyclopedia Britannica is a tertiary source. An encyclopedia references information without any analysis or opinion, therefore, it is a tertiary source. Nevertheless, depending on the scope of your research, encyclopedias can be referenced as primary sources.

Is Britannica a secondary source?

The first edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica was a secondary source when first published in 1768; but today it is a primary source to historians.

Is Wikipedia an encyclopedia?

Wikipedia is a free content, multilingual online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteer contributors through a model of open collaboration. It is the largest and most-read reference work in history. Wikipedia originally developed from another encyclopedia project called Nupedia.

What is tertiary data?

Tertiary sources of information are based on a collection of primary and secondary sources. Examples of tertiary sources include: textbooks (sometimes considered as secondary sources) dictionaries and encyclopedias. manuals, guidebooks, directories, almanacs.

Is newspaper a tertiary source?

For example, newspaper articles are primary sources in the field of history but secondary in most other disciplines. Encyclopedias and textbooks are sometimes considered secondary sources although they are usually identified as tertiary.

What is another name of tertiary?

three-tier, university-level, postsecondary, three-level, three-tiered, higher-level.

Can I cite Britannica?

Last Name, First Name. Encyclopedia/Dictionary name, Edition ed., s.v. “Article Title.” Publication City: Publisher Name, Year Published. Smith, John. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 8th ed., s.v. “Internet.” Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2009.

Is it okay to cite Britannica?

In general, information in the Encyclopedia Brittanica should count as reasonably reliable general information. You must cite it if you quote directly, and probably should in any case at all questionable.