The following diagram illustrates the flow of scientific information. As information moves through this process, it becomes increasingly formalized. Often, many years pass between a researcher's first idea and research and when the results of that research appear in textbooks.
The process is actually a cyclical one, as earlier research from a variety of sources informs scientists' work.
(We would like to thank the University of Waterloo Library for their permission to adapt the "Flow of Scientific Information" image.)
