How do I know if this article is a primary source? (for science)
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.
