FLOW OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION
(modified from University of Waterloo The Library Website)

 

           
   
 
RESEARCH IDEA
   
LEVELS OF
RELIABILITY
(Least to most)
 
 
   

===================

 
 
RESEARCH
   
       
   
     
CONSULTATION WITH COLLEAGUES
   
     
 
GREY
LITERATURE
 
PERSONAL WEBSITE

TECHNICAL REPORTS
PATENTS & PATENT APPLICATIONS
e-PRINTS/ PREPRINTs
 
       
 
PRIMARY LITERATURE      
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
 
     
 
     
DISSERTATION
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
JOURNAL ARTICLES
 
     
SECONDARY LITERATURE    
INDEXES ABSTRACTS
MONOGRAPHS
REVIEWS
     
     
 
TERTIARY LITERATURE      
HANDBOOKS
ENCYCLOPEDIAS
TEXTBOOKS