Before you begin your research, it is important to understand how information on an event is released or published: the information timeline. Watch the video below to learn more about how the information timeline can help you to determine which types of sources to look for based on the type and depth of information you need.
The Information Timeline - Transcript
Over time information about an event changes as more information is gathered and additional perspectives appear. Different kinds of information sources are published at different speeds.
When a major event happens, the first sources of information are often released almost immediately, through social media sources and live video footage and may contain bias (only offer one side of the story). As the event continues to be covered in the news - online, television, radio and newspaper - additional information is gathered, information is updated, and new opinions begin to emerge.
It takes longer for stories to appear in magazines. Here we see additional insight into the event, more context being applied, and we could even see interviews from those involved. We will start to see additional depth to the topic and opinions developing.
It will take months for journal articles to be written on the topic, as researchers gather sources and write well researched and objective pieces. Books usually take a year or more to research and write, and provide more in-depth coverage of the topic, as they dissect it and benefit from hindsight.
As time passes and the event develops, the new information being released is increasingly verified and substantiated, and the topic is covered in more depth with the benefit of increased perspective.
When you are researching a topic, you may choose to use some or all of the different types of resources. This is fine - just be aware of the way that information may change over time.
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