Primary Sources Defined:A primary source could be defined as

something that was created either during the time period being studied or afterward by individuals reflecting on their involvement in the events of that time.

They are generally first person accounts, original creative works, and raw data. A scholar in the humanities may use a newspaper photograph or a poem as a primary source while a scientist might use data from an experiment or an artifact from an archaeological dig. 

Secondary Sources Defined: A secondary source of information is one that was created later by someone who did not experience first-hand or participate in the events or conditions being researched.

They comment upon, explain, or interpret primary sources.   

Primary SourcesPrimary Sources

Secondary Sources

Secondary Sources

Summary Publicatio

ns

Summary Publicatio

ns

Tertiary

Sources

Tertiary

Sources

Diaries, ThesesConference papersReports, Patents

Diaries, ThesesConference papersReports, Patents

Review articles, Scholarly books,Popular literatureReview articles, Scholarly books,Popular literature

Reference BooksDictionaries, Encyclopedias

Handbooks

Reference BooksDictionaries, Encyclopedias

Handbooks

Guides to the literatureAnnotated bibliographiesGuides to the literatureAnnotated bibliographies

Examples of Sources in Different Disciplines

Discipline Primary Secondary

Art Painting Article discussing artist’s influences

History Family diaries Biography of family members

Political Science

Election data Article analyzing voting trends

Theater Play Review of play

Social Sciences

Statistics, Report of an original experiment

Article about topic, review of several studies on the same topic