primary vs. secondary

6
Primary vs. Secondary Sources The ability to distinguish between primary and secondary sources is essential in conducting research.

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Page 1: Primary vs. Secondary

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

The ability to distinguish between primary and secondary sources is essential in conducting research.

Page 2: Primary vs. Secondary

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/

Page 3: Primary vs. Secondary

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.

Page 4: Primary vs. Secondary

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

Page 5: Primary vs. Secondary

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.

Page 6: Primary vs. Secondary

Primary or Secondary?

Context is the key!A scholarly article could beboth depends on the wayyou use it.