6. Primary vs. secondary sources: Definitions

Primary sources are original materials that provide firsthand records of events, experiments, creative works, or statistics. They form the basis for subsequent interpretations, analyses, and explanations. Some examples of primary sources are poems, diaries, court records, surveys, newspaper articles, quantitative and qualitative research studies, and letters.

Secondary sources are materials that provide interpretations, explanations, restatements and descriptions of primary sources. Some examples of secondary sources are editorial and review articles, media, and other reports that review events, experiments, and creative works.