Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Definitions
| |
Humanities |
Sciences |
| Primary Source |
- Original, first-hand account of an event or time period
- Usually written or made during or close to the event or time period
- Original, creative writing or works of art
- Factual, not interpretive
|
- Report of scientific discoveries
- Results of experiments
- Results of clinical trials
- Social and political science research results
- Factual, not interpretive
|
| Secondary Source |
- Analyzes and interprets primary sources
- Second-hand account of an historical event
- Interprets creative work
|
- Analyzes and interprets research results
- Analyzes and interprets scientific discoveries
|
Examples
| |
Humanities |
Sciences |
| Primary Sources |
- Diaries, journals, and letters
- Newspaper and magazine articles (factual accounts)
- Government records (census, marriage, military)
- Photographs, maps, postcards, posters
- Recorded or transcribed speeches
- Interviews with participants or witnesses (e.g., The Civil Right Movement)
- Interviews with people who lived during a particular time (e.g., genocide in Rwanda)
- Songs, Plays, novels, stories
- Paintings, drawings, and sculptures
|
- Published results of research studies
- Published results of scientific experiments
- Published results of clinical trials
- Proceedings of conferences and meetings
|
| Secondary Sources |
- Biographies
- Histories
- Literary Criticism
- Book, Art, and Theater Reviews
- Newspaper articles that interpret
|
- Publications about the significance of research or experiments
- Analysis of a clinical trial
- Review of the results of several experiments or trials
|
Specific Examples
| |
Primary Source |
Secondary Source |
| Literature |
“Song of Myself” (Poem) |
Journal article about the poem’s historical importance |
| Psychology |
Results of clinical trial to treat ADD by modifying diet |
Book about ways to treat childhood ADD without drugs |
| Politics and Government |
U.S. Census Statistics |
Book about suburban population changes in U.S. |
| History |
Recorded interview with Choctaw American Indian |
Journal article about Native Americans who served in WWII |
| Social Science |
Diary of Anne Frank |
Book about diaries kept during the Holocaust |
| Art |
Photographs by Diane Arbus |
Magazine article about 20th century female photographers |
From Thomas, Susan. "Primary versus Secondary Sources," Borough of Manhattan Community College Library Website. BMCC.org: 28 April, 2015. Web.
