Primary sources are original works such as research studies, surveys, interviews, photographs, and government documents that are produced firsthand as a way to report findings without interpretation. Secondary sources discuss, interpret, or describe primary resources and are typically published later in the research cycle, including textbooks, encyclopedias, biographies, editorials, and literature reviews. Secondary sources can also include criticisms, commentaries, bibliographies, and book reviews.

1. PRIMARY VS.
SECONDARY SOURCES
Michelle Orr
morr@jcsu.edu
704-378-1033

2. Primary Sources
Original Source Material
• Often come 1st in a publication cycle.
• Consists of original experiments, surveys,
fieldwork, interviews.

3. Original Research Articles

8. Photographs & Drawings

9. Surveys

10. Research Data

11. Speeches, Oral Histories, Audio, & Video
Recordings

12. Patents

13. Correspondence

14. Autobiographies, Memoirs, and Diaries

15. Works of Art & Literature

16. Government Documents

17. Secondary Sources
Comment, discuss, interpret, or
describe a primary resource.
• Usually at the end of a publication
cycle.
• Typically “after the fact” works.

18. Textbooks

19. Encyclopedias

20. Biographies

21. Editorials

22. Literature Reviews & Review Articles

23. But, wait! There’s more:
•Criticisms and interpretations
•Commentaries
•Bibliographies
•Book reviews
•Dictionaries…….