Primary vs. Secondary Sources The ability to distinguish between primary and secondary sources is essential in conducting research.

Primary Sources? Primary sources are original records created at the time historical events occurred or well after events in the form of memoirs and oral histories. --ALA/Reference & User Services Association http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/History/RUSA/

Primary sources are original records created at

the time historical events occurred or well

after events in the form of memoirs and oral

histories.

--ALA/Reference & User Services Association

http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/History/RUSA/

Examples of Primary Sources Scientific journal articles reporting experimental research results Proceedings of meetings, conferences, and symposia Technical reports Sets of data Diaries Interviews and surveys Government documents Letters and correspondences Etc.

Scientific journal articles reporting experimental research results

Proceedings of meetings, conferences, and symposia

Technical reports

Sets of data

Diaries

Interviews and surveys

Government documents

Letters and correspondences

Etc.

Secondary Sources? Secondary sources are materials that provide interpretations, analyses, explanations, critiques, restatements and descriptions of primary sources. -- http://www.xavier.edu/library/xututor/glossary/glossary_sz.cfm

Secondary sources are materials that provide

interpretations, analyses, explanations,

critiques, restatements and descriptions of

primary sources.

-- http://www.xavier.edu/library/xututor/glossary/glossary_sz.cfm

Examples of Secondary Sources Dictionaries and encyclopedias Indexing and abstracting tools used to locate primary sources (e.g., CINAHL, MEDLINE, other library databases) Documentaries Text books Review articles and literature reviews Etc.

Dictionaries and encyclopedias

Indexing and abstracting tools used to locate primary sources (e.g., CINAHL, MEDLINE, other library databases)

Documentaries

Text books

Review articles and literature reviews

Etc.

Primary or Secondary? Context is the key! A scholarly article could be both depends on the way you use it.