Primary Sources

A primary source is an original document or firsthand account created at the time of an event or by someone directly involved. It provides direct evidence without interpretation or analysis. These sources offer unique insights into historical, cultural, or social contexts.

Examples of primary sources:  

• Published materials: Novels, poems, plays, research study data, autobiographies, speeches, and eyewitness accounts in newspapers, tweets, magazines, or blogs.  
• Unpublished materials: Personal letters, diaries, journals, wills, deeds, and family histories.  
• Interviews and recordings: Conversations or recordings from people who directly experienced the events.  
• Visual and physical artifacts: Photographs, films, paintings, coins, clothing, tombstones, maps, pamphlets, posters, laws, and court decisions.

A secondary source interprets or analyzes primary sources or other secondary sources. It provides secondhand information and is one step removed from the original event or data. These sources offer context, analysis, or commentary on primary information.

Examples of secondary sources:

• Books: Biographies, histories, overviews, and works based on other sources.
• Reviews: Literature reviews and book reviews.
• Articles: Journal articles that summarize or analyze research rather than report new findings, and newspaper or magazine articles that do not provide firsthand accounts.

A tertiary source compiles and summarizes information from primary and secondary sources. It presents the information in a simplified or basic format. Tertiary sources are often used for quick reference or as starting points for research.

Examples of tertiary sources:

• Reference works: Wikipedia, fact books, and almanacs.
• Resource guides: Bibliographies and directories.
• Biographical compilations: Sources like Who’s Who (note: individual biographies are secondary sources).
• Data summaries: Statistical overviews and summaries.

Journal articles can be classified as both primary and secondary sources.

• Primary information: The Method and Results sections present original research or data.
• Secondary information: The Introduction, Discussion, and Conclusion sections interpret or analyze the work and ideas of others.

This dual nature depends on how the article presents and uses information.