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Distinguishing between Primary and Secondary Resources
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
What are they?
|
Primary Source |
Secondary Source |
Humanities |
- Original, first-hand account of an event or time period
- Original, creative writing or works of art
- Usually written or created during or close to the event or time period
- Not interpretive
|
- Analyzes and interprets primary sources
- Second-hand account of an historical event
- Interprets creative work
|
Sciences |
- Report of scientific discoveries
- Results of experiments
- Results of clinical trials
- Social and political science research results
- Factual, not interpretive
|
- Analyzes and interprets research results
- Analyzes and interprets scientific discoveries
|
Examples
|
Primary Sources |
Secondary Sources |
Humanities |
- Diaries, journals, and letters
- Newspaper and magazine articles (factual accounts)
- Government records (census, marriage, military)
- Photographs, maps, postcards, posters
- Recorded or transcribed speeches
- Interviews with participants or witnesses (e.g., The Civil Rights Movement)
- Interviews with people who lived during a particular time (e.g., genocide in Rwanda)
- Songs, plays, novels, stories
- Paintings, drawings, and sculptures
|
- Literary criticism
- Biographies
- Books and articles presenting the research of others
|
Sciences |
- Published results of research studies
- Published results of scientific experiments
- Published results of clinical trials
- Proceedings of conferences and meetings
|
- Publications about the significance of research or experiments
- Analysis of a clinical trial
- Review of the results of several experiments or trials
|
Specific Examples
|
Primary Source |
Secondary Source |
Literature |
“Song of Myself” (Poem) |
Journal article about the poem’s historical importance |
Psychology |
Results of clinical trial to treat ADD by modifying diet |
Book about ways to treat childhood ADD without drugs |
Government |
U.S. Census Statistics |
Book about suburban population changes in U.S. |
History |
Text of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech |
Journal article about King's role in the Civil Rights Movement |
Art |
Ding Darling cartoons |
Magazine article about political cartoonists of the 20th century |
Sociology |
Diary of Anne Frank |
Book contrasting personal accounts of the German occupation |