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Primary or Secondary Source?
It is important to recognize that not all information is appropriate for a particular assignment. Information sources are seldom equally valuable. Be aware of the difference between primary and secondary sources.
Primary Sources
A primary source is a document or piece of evidence written or created during the time period you are studying. A primary source allows you to examine evidence firsthand without being affected by other opinions.
Types of Primary Sources:
- Diaries, journals, speeches, interviews, letters, memos written by individuals who were participants or observers.
- Creative works such as poetry, drama, novels, music, art.
- Artifacts such as jewelry, dinosaur bones, clothing, robots, wind energy towers, toys.
- Original research or experimentation as reported in scholarly journals.
- Articles discussing practical information in industry as found in trade journals.
- Technical reports which are accounts of work done on research projects.
- Records of organizations and agencies of government such as minutes, reports, correspondence; many kinds records (births, deaths, licenses, etc.) which document conditions of society.
- Photographs, audio recordings, films or video recordings documenting what happened.
- A newspaper article when the reporter is a participant such as reporting a meeting or a travel adventure.
Examples of Primary Sources:
- A slave diary
- A poem
- Jackson county soil survey
- A letter written by John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis
- News footage of the Mount Saint Helens volcano
- A report on the Granite Falls school board meeting
- Minnesota legislative bills
- A report on the speed of a DSL connection
- U.S. census records
Secondary Sources
A secondary source describes or analyzes a primary source. These sources are one step removed from the actual event and allow you to understand what scholars and other experts know about your topic. Most materials in our libraries are secondary sources; some secondary sources are now available on the Web.
Types of Secondary Sources:
- Books and articles that explain or review research works.
- Histories and critical commentaries.
- Newspaper articles written by a reporter who had nothing to do with the actual research.
- Textbooks.
Reference books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, manuals, or directories are also secondary sources. However, check with your instructor because many instructors do not allow these reference sources when writing a college-level paper. They may be acceptable only for background information and identifying search terms.
Examples of Secondary Sources:
- A book about the effects of World War I
- An article critiquing a piece of art
- A book analyzing hydraulic systems
- A book on the history of aviation
- A journal article reviewing recent research on diabetes
- A newspaper article reporting a recent development in nuclear physics.
- A biography written in 1999 about George Washington
- A journal article that explains the meaning of a poem
- A book on the latest erosion control methods
- A video of automobile pin striping techniques
- An article analyzing Adolph Hitler's personality
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