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Science Research Basics: Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary and Secondary Sources

In the Sciences, primary sources are documents that provide full description of the original research. For example:

  • A primary source would be a journal article where scientists describe their research on the human immune system.
  • A secondary source would be an article commenting on or analyzing the scientists' research on the human immune system.
  Primary Source Secondary Source
DEFINITIONS

Original materials that have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation by a second party.

Sources that contain commentary on or a discussion about a primary source.
TIMING OF PUBLICATION CYCLE Usually first in the pub cycle Usually second in the pub cycle
FORMATS- depends on the analysis being conducted Conference papers, dissertations, interviews, laboratory notebooks, patents, a study reported in a journal article, a survey reported in a journal article, and technical reports.
EXAMPLE: Scientists studying genetically modified foods.  Article in scholarly journal reporting research and methodology. Articles analyzing and commenting on the results of original research; books doing the same

 

Examples of Primary and Secondary Resources

Examples of Primary and Secondary Sources in Science
Primary Source Secondary Source
  • Conference papers
  • Criticism and Interpretation
  • Correspondence
  • Dictionaries
  • DIssertations
  • Directories
  • Diaries
  • Encyclopedias
  • Interviews
  • Government Policy
  • Lab Notebooks
  • Guide to Literature
  • Notes
  • Handbooks
  • Patents
  • Law and Legislation
  • Proceedings
  • Monographs
  • Studies or Surveys
  • Moral and Ethical Aspects
  • Technical Reports
  • Political Aspects
  • Theses

     
  • Public Opinion
 
  • Reviews
 
  • Social Policy
 
  • Tables

Source: The Evolution of Scientific Information (from Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science, vol. 26).