Raw data, dictionaries, and handbooks can be considered what type of sources?

Raw data, dictionaries, and handbooks are typically classified as tertiary sources. Tertiary sources compile, summarize, and synthesize information from primary and secondary sources, making them valuable for quickly accessing a broad overview of a topic or a collection of data. Dictionaries and handbooks provide organized information and definitions related to various fields, helping users understand concepts and frameworks without deep diving into original research or primary data.

In contrast, primary sources refer to original materials or data created at the time of the event or research, while secondary sources interpret or analyze primary sources. External sources are information or data from outside an organization, which can include both primary and secondary sources, but they are not specifically characterized as dictionaries or handbooks. Internal sources refer to information that originates within an organization, which is not relevant in this context. Thus, the categorization of these materials as tertiary sources captures their role as aggregators of knowledge and reference aids.