| Source Function |
Explanation |
Examples |
Common Locations |
| Background |
Factual and noncontroversial information, providing context |
Encyclopedia articles, overviews in books, statistics, historical facts; see CREDO Reference
|
Introduction |
| Exhibit/Evidence |
Data, observations, objects, artifacts, documents that can be analyzed |
Text of a novel, field observations, focus group transcriptions, questionnaire data, results of an experiment, interview data (primary sources)
|
Body, Results section |
| Argument |
Critical views from other scholars and commentators; part of the academic conversation |
Scholarly articles, books, critical reviews (e.g. literacy criticism), editorials |
Body, sometimes in Introduction or in Literature Review
|
| Method (or Theory) |
Reference to methods or theories used, usually explicit though may be implicit; approach or research methodology used |
Part of books or articles with reference to theorists (e.g. Foucault, Derrida) or theory (e.g. feminism, post-colonialism, new historicism etc.); information on a research methodology
|
Methods section or referenced in Introduction or Body |
A source may serve more than one function. For instance, a journal article could include background information, exhibits, argument and method. However, some sources are focused on a single function. For example, an encyclopedia entry on “Alzheimer's disease” is likely to only serve as background information.
