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Primary Sources vs. Secondary Sources

This research guide explains what primary and secondary sources are, and how to find them for using in research papers.

What are Primary and Secondary Sources?

Primary Sources are immediate, first-hand accounts of a topic, from people who had a direct connection with it. They are typically created at the time the event took place. 

Primary Sources include:

  • Original research, including research articles in academic journals which include an experiment by the author(s).
  • Texts of laws and other government documents.
  • Newspaper reports, by reporters who witnessed an event or who quote people who did.
  • Speeches, diaries, autobiographies, letters and interviews - what the people involved said or wrote.
  • Datasets, survey data, such as census or economic statistics.
  • Photographs, video, or audio of an event.

Secondary Sources are one step removed from primary sources, though they often quote or use primary sources. These sources interpret or analyze events. They are usually written by individuals who are at least one step removed from the event.

     Secondary Sources include:

  • Most books about a topic.
  • Encyclopedias.
  • Textbooks.
  • Literary criticism.
  • Analysis or interpretation of data.
  • Scholarly or other articles about a topic, especially by people not directly involved.
  • Documentaries.
  • Journal articles that are meta-analyses or systematic reviews.

Source: VC/UHV LibGuide "Primary vs. Secondary Sources: Examples."

When it comes to scholarly research articles, you often have to do a bit of sleuthing to figure out if the article is a primary source, or if it is a review or commentary on the work of others. Here are the clues to look for:

  • Characteristics and/or number of research participants / subjects - skim the abstract and methods section to see if the article's authors have named or described any research participants. This will usually include phrases like "27 undergraduate males and females were surveyed..." or "512 participants with rheumatoid arthritis were recruited..."
  • Does the methods section describe the authors working with people / animals / genetic samples / microorganisms? (primary source) Or are they just working with data or the work of others? (secondary source)
  • If the title or abstract includes these words - "meta-analysis" or "systematic review" - these articles are NOT primary sources, but are actually reviews of existing research on the topic being discussed - in other words, a secondary source.

 

How do I find primary & secondary sources?

Tips for locating primary sources:

  • Search by author: If your topic is a historical person, try searching for that person as an author. For example, if you want to find letters or speeches written by Frederick Douglass, type "Douglass, Frederick" in the AUTHOR or CREATOR field.
  • Important keywords: Add words like "letters," "correspondence," "diaries," "papers," or "archives" to your search terms. For example searching for "Abraham Lincoln correspondence" will help you find letters written to or from Abraham Lincoln.
  • Limit your search: Some databases allow you to restrict your search to certain types of documents. Look for fields like "Material Type" or "Document Type" where you can ask for particular kinds of documents like letters, manuscripts, or archives. 

Tips for locating secondary sources:

  • Try to combine topic, keyword, or a person's name with any of the following: "biography," "encyclopedia," "article," "review," "criticism," "analysis."

Try these library databases using the above search tips:

PHC Phone 925-969-2595

SRC Phone 925-551-6270

Text 925-705-4031

Email ask@dvc.libanswers.com