Information Formats

Click on the highlighted words for their definitions.

In the next few screens we will be talking about various information needs and the corresponding formats. Formats are extensive and can include:

  • books, e-books, reference materials
  • journals, annual reviews, letters to the editor, technical reports, preprints
  • government information, patents, standards, protocols
  • grey literature, conference proceedings, dissertations/theses
  • specimen types, taxonomies, datasets, maps

a protocol is a formal or official statement recording the details of procedures and results of a scientific experiment or medical treatment

taxonomy is the science of classification according to a pre-determined system, resulting in catalogs or taxonomies used to provide a conceptual framework for discussion, analysis, or information retrieval

A dataset is a logically meaningful collection or grouping of similar or related data, usually assembled as a matter of record or for research