Sourcemethoden

Sourcemethoden refer to the set of practices and techniques used to locate, select, verify, and document information sources. They are used in fields such as research, journalism, and policy analysis to build a credible evidentiary basis for claims and decisions.

Sources can be categorized by their relationship to the original material. Primary sources provide original data or evidence, such as raw datasets, documents, interviews, or experimental results. Secondary sources analyze or interpret primary material, like reviews or scholarly articles. Tertiary sources summarize secondary material, such as encyclopedias or bibliographies. Researchers may also use data repositories, archives, field notes, and published literature as source material, employing both qualitative and quantitative data.

The sourcing process typically includes several steps. First, one defines the information need and establishes criteria for relevance and credibility. Next, systematic searches are conducted across appropriate databases, archives, and other channels. Collected sources are evaluated for reliability, bias, provenance, and context, and then organized with proper metadata. Documentation of provenance, including citations and licensing, is essential to enable verification and reuse. Triangulation and cross-checking with multiple independent sources help improve reliability and reduce errors.

Ethical and legal considerations are integral to sourcemethoden. This includes respecting privacy, obtaining consent where appropriate, complying with copyright and licensing terms, and ensuring responsible handling of sensitive information. Transparency and reproducibility are valued, with clear attribution and accessible documentation.

Applications of sourcemethoden span academic research, journalism, public policy, and data science. Well-documented sourcing supports critical evaluation, reproducibility, and informed decision-making, while also facilitating future work that builds on existing evidence.