Primary & Secondary Sources
Learning Outcomes
After using this tutorial, you will understand the difference between primary and secondary sources across disciplines.
Introduction
Primary sources are the original materials or evidence to be analyzed, evaluated, contextualized, or synthesized in the research process. Secondary Sources analyze, evaluate, contextualize, or synthesize evidence. They often give secondhand accounts based on engagement with primary sources. This chart offers distinctions by discipline:
Discipline | Example Fields | Primary Source Examples | Secondary Source Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
Arts | Visual Arts, Performing Arts | Sketchbooks, scripts, plays, sculptures, music | Critical reviews in journal articles, publications about the authors/artists and their works |
Humanities | Philosophy, History, Literature, Languages | Speeches, diaries, narratives, artifacts, interviews, short stories, original research | Reviews of books, literary criticisms, topical monographs, journal articles, annotated bibliographies, documentaries |
Social Sciences | Business, Psychology, Political Science, Education, Economics | Studies, lesson plans, case reports, surveys, market research and testing, statistical data, published results of clinical trials | Publications about the significance of research or experiments, reviews of results |
Natural Sciences and Applied Sciences | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, Computer Science | Published results of experiments, observations, discoveries, technical reports, models, schematic drawings, specimens, designs | Publications about the significance of research or experiments, reviews of results |
It is important to note that the distinction between primary and secondary sources is contextual and you may not be able to tell solely based on document type. A document may be considered a primary source in one context and a secondary source in another. For example, a speech about the Declaration of Independence by a notable orator would be a secondary source for a scholar studying the philosophical origins of the document, but a primary source when studying how the Declaration's meaning has changed over time.
More Resources
To find articles and other resources in your discipline, browse your subject guide. If you have questions or need more help, review our other tutorials on research basics or reach out to us through Ask a Librarian. An accompanying quiz for this tutorial is available on Canvas Commons. See Finding & Importing Library Content on Canvas Commons for help with adding library content to your Canvas course.
