Primary vs. Secondary
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Transcript of Primary vs. Secondary
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/
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.
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
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.
Primary or Secondary?
Context is the key!A scholarly article could beboth depends on the wayyou use it.