Categorizing Sources by Format: The BEAM Approach

The final way of categorizing sources that we’ll cover in this module is a bit different than the categorization methods we’ve considered so far. This approach is referred to as BEAM, which stands for Background, Exhibit, Argument, and Method. This approach was proposed by Dr. Joseph Bizup in a 2008 article. It focuses on the functions that sources can serve during the research process rather than the format or type of the source. Bizup suggests that, as we engage in research, we can consider each source to fall into one of four functional categories: background (often something like an encyclopedia or reference source); exhibit (a source that serves as evidence or provides a site of analysis); argument (a source used to engage an argument in some way); and method (drawing inspiration from the research approach or methodology of a source rather than focusing on the specific content).  

This video from HACC Library does a great job explaining the BEAM approach by walking through a specific research example:

If you’d rather read through an example than watch a video, check out Using BEAM: An Example from Ohio State University Libraries’ open textbook Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research. 

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