What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?

Answer

A primary source is a direct record/ impression of an event provided by a person with a firsthand account. Primary sources are original documents, meaning they are not written about another document. Examples of primary sources can include diaries, twitter posts, interviews, newspaper articles (as long as they are current to the event and not looking back at it) speeches, and more.

A secondary source is meant to interpret, highlight, or draw conclusions about primary sources. Often secondary sources are journal articles or books, but they can also include other materials like documentaries or podcasts.

The way a source is classified is often dependent of the context of the source. Some sources can be either primary or secondary depending on the context of the research. For example, a documentary about World War I is usually considered a secondary source, but if the research question is about how documentary films represent World War I, the same documentary becomes a primary source. If you need any help determining what type of sources you are looking at- ask a librarian for help!

  • Last Updated Dec 13, 2021
  • Views 6
  • Answered By Leah -

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