Chapter
In the Humanities & Social Sciences
In the humanities and social sciences, primary sources are the direct evidence or first-hand accounts of events without secondary analysis or interpretation. A primary source is a work that was created or written contemporary with the period or subject being studied. Secondary sources analyze or interpret historical events or creative works.
Primary sources
- Diaries
- Interviews
- Letters
- Original works of art
- Photographs
- Speeches
- Works of literature
A primary source is an original document containing firsthand information about a topic. Different fields of study may use different types of primary sources.
Secondary sources
- Biographies
- Dissertations
- Indexes, abstracts, bibliographies (used to locate a secondary source)
- Journal articles
- Monographs
A secondary source contains commentary on or discussion about a primary source. Its most important feature is that it offers an interpretation of information gathered from primary sources.
Tertiary sources
- Dictionaries
- Encyclopedias
- Handbooks
A tertiary source presents summaries or condensed versions of materials, usually with references back to the primary and/or secondary sources. It can be a good place to look up facts or get a general overview of a subject but rarely contains original material.
Examples
|
Subject |
Primary |
Secondary |
Tertiary |
|
Art |
Painting |
Critical review of the painting |
Encyclopedia article on the artist |
|
History |
Civil War diary |
Book on a Civil War Battle |
List of battle sites |
|
Literature |
Novel or poem |
Essay about themes in the work |
Biography of the author |
|
Political science |
Geneva Convention |
Article about prisoners of war |
Chronology of treaties |
In the Sciences
In the sciences, primary sources are documents that provide a full description of the original research. For example, a primary source would be a journal article where scientists describe their research on the genetics of tobacco plants. A secondary source would be an article commenting on or analyzing the scientists’ research on tobacco.
Primary sources
- Conference proceedings
- Interviews
- Journals
- Lab notebooks
- Patents
- Preprints
- Technical reports
- Theses and dissertations
These are where the results of original research are usually first published in the sciences. This makes them the best source of information on cutting-edge topics. However the new ideas presented may not be fully refined or validated yet.
Secondary sources
- Monographs
- Reviews
- Textbooks
- Treatises
These tend to summarize the existing state of knowledge in a field at the time of publication. Secondary sources are good for comparing different ideas and theories and examining how they may have changed over time.
Tertiary sources
- Compilations
- Dictionaries
- Encyclopedias
- Handbooks
- Tables
These types of sources present condensed material, generally with references back to the primary and/or secondary literature. They can be a good place to look up data or to get an overview of a subject, but they rarely contain original material.
Examples
|
Subjects |
Primary |
Secondary |
Tertiary |
|
Agriculture |
Conference paper on tobacco genetics |
Review article on the current state of tobacco research |
Encyclopedia article on tobacco |
|
Chemistry |
Chemical patent |
Book on chemical reactions |
Table of related reactions |
|
Physics |
Einstein’s diary |
Biography on Einstein |
Dictionary of relativity |
LICENSE AND ATTRIBUTION
Adapted from Lumen Learning’s “Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources” from English Composition II used according to CC BY 4.0.