Primary or Secondary Source?
It is important to recognize that not all information is appropriate for a particular assignment. Information sources are seldom equally valuable. Be aware of the difference between primary and secondary sources.
PRIMARY
SOURCES
A primary source is a document or piece of evidence
written or created during the time period you are studying.
A primary source allows you to examine evidence firsthand without
being affected by other opinions.
Types
of Primary Sources:
Diaries, journals, speeches, interviews,
letters, memos written by individuals who were participants or observers
Creative works such as poetry, drama, novels,
music, art
Artifacts such as jewelry, dinosaur bones, clothing,
robots, wind energy towers, toys
Original research or experimentation as reported
in scholarly journals
Articles discussing practical information in
industry as found in trade journals
Technical reports which are accounts of work
done on research projects
Records of organizations and agencies of
government such as minutes, reports, correspondence; many kinds
records (births, deaths, licenses, etc.) which document conditions
of society.
Photographs, audio recordings, films or
video recordings documenting what happened
A newspaper article when the reporter is a participant such
as reporting a meeting or a travel adventure
Examples of Primary Sources:
- A slave diary
- A poem
- Jackson county soil survey
- A letter written by John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis
- News footage of the Mount Saint Helens volcano
- A report on the Granite Falls school board meeting
- Minnesota legislative bills
- A report on the speed of a DSL connection
- U.S. census records
SECONDARY SOURCES
A secondary source describes or analyzes a primary source. These
sources are one step removed from the actual event and allow you to
understand what scholars and other experts know about your topic.
Most materials in our libraries are secondary sources; some secondary
sources are now available on the Web.
Types
of Secondary Sources:
Books and articles that explain or review research works
Histories and critical commentaries
Newspaper articles written by a reporter who had nothing to
do with the actual research.
Textbooks
Reference books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, manuals, or directories are also secondary sources. However, check with your instructor because many instructors do not allow these reference sources when writing a college-level paper. They may be acceptable only for background information and identifying search terms.
- Examples of Secondary Sources:
- A book about the effects of World War I
- An article critiquing a piece of art
- A book analyzing hydraulic systems
- A book on the history of aviation
- A journal article reviewing recent research on diabetes
- A newspaper article reporting a recent development in nuclear physics.
- A biography written in 1999 about George Washington
- A journal article that explains the meaning of a poem
- A book on the latest erosion control methods
- A video of automobile pin striping techniques
- An article analyzing Adolph Hitler's personality
Adapted with permission from Minnesota West Community and Technical College