Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Primary and Secondary Sources

Think about how you can incorporate these sources into your paper.

When evaluating the quality of the information you are using, it is helpful to identify if you are using a Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary source. By doing so, you will be able to recognize if the author is reporting on their own first-hand experiences or relying on the views of others.

Source Type	Examples
Primary A primary source is a first-person account of someone who experienced or witnessed an event. This original document has not been previously published or interpreted by anyone else.	A first-person account of an event First publication of a scientific study Speech or lecture Original artwork Novel (fiction) Film Manuscript Letters between two people A diary Historical documents, e.g., the Bill of Rights
Secondary A secondary source is one step removed from the primary source. The author is reexamining, interpreting, and forming conclusions based on the information conveyed in the primary source.	Journal article reporting on a scientific study Newspaper and Magazine articles Review of a music CD or art show Critique of a work of fiction or film Biography
Tertiary A tertiary source leads the researcher to a secondary rather than a primary source.	Indexes and bibliographies Encyclopedias and dictionaries Library catalogs Most textbooks Guidebooks

Types of Sources

Each of these sources has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Newspapers: Written for general readers on a wide variety of topics.
Example: Newspaper article reporting local pollution event, including interviews with residents.

Magazines: Also for current topics, written for general readers with no background in the subject. Example: Longer, in depth article about a pollutant or pollution event for a general audience.

Academic Journals: Longer research reports by specialists, written for other specialists. Can be quite technical. (Also called Scholarly / Peer Reviewed / Professional Journals). Example: Research article examining the detrimental health effects of overexposure to lead.

Books: Much longer and in-depth than articles from newspapers, journals and magazines.Can be written for the non-specialist or specialist. Due to publishing time, will probably not cover recent events. Some may be collections of individual articles. Example: Book on importance of access to clean drinking water.

Regulations: Regulations, legislation, rules, standards and advisories from health or other government organizations will give you an idea of what are currently considered acceptable levels of exposure, limits on discharge, handling and disposal requirements, projected goals and other regulatory policies. Example: Recommended thresholds for exposure to lead by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statistics: Data of how much, how many, how often provided in clear charts. Often produced by government organizations. When you find a number quoted in an article, see if you can find the original source. Example: U.S. greenhouse emissions by gas (1990-2105) from the EPA.

HIST. 111 - U.S. 19th Century History - Prof. Vecchio - FALL 2022: Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Primary and Secondary Sources

Think about how you can incorporate these sources into your paper.

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Types of Sources

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