Xavier University Library: XU.TUTOR: Identifying Resources: Primary vs. Secondary Sources: Examples

7. Primary vs. Secondary sources > Examples

Academic Discipline	Primary Source	Secondary Source
Art	An original painting	Critique of the painting
Health Sciences	Medicare data	Analysis of the data
History	A slave's diary	Description of slavery
Literature	A novel	Criticism of the novel
Performing Arts	Video of King Lear	Review of the performance
Political Science	Treaty	Interpretation of the treaty
Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)	A research study that contains a materials, methods, and results section describing an experiment or observation performed by the authors.	An editorial or review article that summarizes what is known about a particular topic.
Social Sciences (Education, Nursng, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, etc.)	A quantitative or qualitative research study that describes an intervention and its outcome on a specific population.	An editorial or review article that summarizes what is known about a particular topic.