Research Paper

There are several aspects to our research papers that I am still unclear on at this point.  I have written many research papers in the past, so I understand most of the steps of writing the paper, but I could still learn a few things about the research itself.  For example, I would like to learn about the different ways to use different types of sources in my paper.  I need a better understanding of the differences between using a newspaper article versus a book or a primary source versus a secondary source.  Also, I would like to learn when to use summary, paraphrasing, and direct quotes.  I understand the differences between all three, but how is each method beneficial at different points in writing the research paper?  Strategies for how to find the right information in a source would also be a helpful topic.  What is the best way to determine which information to include in the research paper?