Library:WD/ScholarlyCommunication/WhatIsTertiaryLiterature

From UBC Wiki

What is tertiary literature?

The final stage in the process of scholarly communication is the tertiary literature, which provides you with an overview of a topic. Tertiary literature includes sources such as:

  • Encyclopedias
  • Handbooks
  • Dictionaries


These sources are a good place to look when you are just starting to research a topic. You probably won't cite an encyclopedia or a handbook but it will give you that little push in the right direction.


Summary: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources