Foundations of Business Research
Types of Business Resources
As you work through the library's resources you will find a wide variety of business information drawn from a number of different kinds of resources. The chart below presents a quick overview of some of the more common types of information resources you will encounter.
| Publication Type | Examples | Content | Authors | Audience | Reviewed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Journals | Academy of Management Journal, Harvard Business Review, Journal of Marketing | Original Research, In-Depth, Specific, Cite Sources | Scholars and Practitioners | Scholars, Industry Professionals, Students | Scholars (Peer Review) |
| Trade Publications | Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal, Beverage Industry, Women's Wear Daily | Brief Articles, Developments in a Specific Field, Advertisements and Job Postings | Industry Professionals and Staff Writers with Expertise | Industry Professionals | Editors |
| Popular News and Magazines | Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Inc. | Brief Articles on Topics of General Interest, Advertisements | Journalists | General Public | Editors |
| Government Filings | SEC Form 10-K, IRS Form 990, SEC Form 20-F | Descriptions of Organizations, Financial Information | Companies | Regulators, Investors, Analysts | Company Officers, Accountants |
| Company Website | Press Releases, Annual Reports, Corporate Social Responsibility Reports | Information on Organizational Initiatives, Products, Financial Performance | Organizational Marketing Departments | General Public, Investors | Organizational Marketing Departments |
| Government Information | Occupational Outlook Handbook,congress.gov, Supreme Court Decisions | Statistics, Laws, Court Cases | Government Agencies | General Public, Industry Professionals, Investors, Scholars, Students | Government Agencies |
| Analyst Reports | SWOT Analysis, Mintel Report, PESTLE Analysis | Proprietary Evaluations of Organizations, Industries, and Places | Professional Analysts | Industry Professionals, Investors, Scholars | Professional Analysts, Editors |
| Case Studies | Harvard Business Review Case Study, Emerald Case Study | Brief Narratives Concerning Strategy Problems | Scholars, Students | Students | Scholars (Peer Review), Host Organizations |