Northern Kentucky University

Introduction

We take in so much information in so many different forms every day, it's hard to make sense of it all. In extreme cases, we may even experience "information overload."

So, it's important to understand that information is produced and distributed according to general patterns, often referred to as "Information Cycles." It's not an exact science; but a skilled researcher who understands these patterns and knows which types of information sources are most appropriate for any given project is likely to achieve consistent success in finding what they need. Below is a timeline illustrating the information cycle:

To learn more about each source, select from the tabs above. The sources are arranged in a loosely chronological pattern. We suggest you begin with News.

This tutorial by W. Frank Steely Library, Northern Kentucky University is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Based on a work at www.lib.washington.edu.