What type of materials are considered reference materials?

Reference materials are essential tools for court reporters as they provide foundational knowledge and support the accuracy of transcripts. In the context of court reporting, resources for legal and medical terminology are particularly crucial. These materials offer standardized definitions and usage examples that are necessary for correctly capturing and conveying complex jargon encountered in legal proceedings and medical contexts.

Legal terminology is vital for understanding the language and procedures of the law, while medical terminology is important when cases involve healthcare topics or medical professionals. Having reference materials that specifically focus on these areas enables court reporters to ensure precision in their transcripts and helps them navigate the specialized language they may encounter during proceedings.

The other options, while potentially useful in other contexts, do not meet the specific definition of reference materials tailored for court reporting needs. Personal notes and informal documents vary greatly in reliability and formality, making them unsuitable as authoritative references. Examples of previous court cases may provide context but are not directly useful as terminological references. Reports from board meetings, although possibly informative, do not address the specialized terminology that court reporters must understand and accurately document.