Introduction > Reviewing Literature > Where to Look for Information > Secondary Literature

Secondary Literature If you're relatively new to the chosen subject area, secondary literature (books, websites, journal reviews) can give you a gentle introduction and provide basic information to get you started. For example, if you're researching the effects of climate change on RUBISCO (Ribulose Bisphosphate Caroboxylatse/Oxygenase, an essential plant enzyme), you could read Chapter 9 of Plant Physiology* which would give you an overview of enzymes, proteins and amino acids. Secondary literature can either be found in your University library or on the Internet. Bear in mind, however, that the reliability of secondary sources is likely to be less than that of primary literature. Books Books and textbooks are an excellent source of background information and your University library should have copies of the best textbooks for your subject. However, the nature of book publishing means that it can take literally years to write and publish so be aware that the information you're reading may be superseded by the time it comes into print. Many textbooks are revised every few years and it's possible to document the change in knowledge and/or technology by looking at previous editions and comparing the level of detail. Have a quick search of your library catalogue and find some books and/or textbooks that are relevant to your subject area. Web sites Official web sites (eg Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Food Standards Agency) can provide valuable information on your topic, and may allow you to access in-house research results and/or fact sheets. However, always consider the reliability of Internet sites, and wherever possible, double-check the accuracy of the information you've found by consulting primary sources or secondary sources. Reviews in journals Although scientific journals are generally classed as primary literature, they may also contain review articles on a subject which are 'technically' classed as secondary sources of information. Review articles discuss previous research on a particular topic but don't present new results. However, a good review paper can provide a sound basis around which to build your own literature review so it's always worth finding out if any have been published when you search through the primary literature. *Salisbury, F.B. and Ross, C.W.R. (1992). Plant Physiology, 4th Edition, Wadsworth Publishing Company, California, pp 191-206

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