In this sense, the most appropriate information source for finding books and dossiers are catalogues.
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Catalogues are usually defined as secondary information sources, which are those that provide information that is the result of the prior analysis of the primary sources (books and dossiers), but which do not contain new, final or original information but refer to primary sources or documents.
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In terms of information and document searches, primary sources are deemed to be all those that are original. By original we mean those documents that have not been modified in any way. This is "raw" information. Primary information is also that which researchers expressly create for a specific study. This information does not exist at the time when the need to use it first arises.
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In turn, by secondary documents we mean those that are the result of analysis - the result of processing primary resources. In this case, it is "processed" information which already existed or had already been produced. Thus, databases (containing journal articles) or catalogues (containing books and other documents) can be deemed secondary sources; so too are those studies and sources already in existence (such as statistical data) that are subsequently used for research. This already existing information is available at the time when there is the need for it.
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Likewise, there are tertiary documents, which are those made up of reviews of primary and secondary materials, such as bibliographies of bibliographies, bibliographic indexes, etc.
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Researchers may find it useful to combine knowledge and use of primary and secondary sources in order to discern between new data and fundamental and consolidated data when developing their research in a given subject or discipline.
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Examples of primary sources
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Manuals
Encyclopaedias
Dictionaries
Monographs
Journals
Conference proceedings
Doctoral theses
Research reports
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Examples of secondary sources
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Revisions
Compilation articles
Bibliographies
Reviews
Abstracts
Catalogues
Tables of contents
Databases
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Examples of tertiary sources
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Bibliographies of bibliographies
Bibliographic indices
Reference work guides
Information source manuals
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