Examples
Examples of Primary Sources | Examples of Secondary Sources |
---|---|
Research articles published in scholarly, peer-reviewed journals | Summaries, critiques, or interpretations of primary literature |
Clinical trials | Review articles |
Interviews | Textbooks (can also be a tertiary source) |
Correspondence | Dictionaries (can also be a tertiary source) |
Patents | Directories (can also be a tertiary source) |
Lab notebooks | Encyclopedias (can also be a tertiary source) |
Theses & dissertations | Handbooks (can also be a tertiary source) |
Technical Reports |
More Information
Where to find primary sources
To find primary source literature in the sciences, use library databases. Research guides can help you identify databases for the discipline you are interested in.
Note: The library databases may contain references to both primary and secondary literature. You will need to examine each resource carefully to determine which one it is.
History of Science - Primary Sources
History of Science
Finding primary resources in the history of science or medicine is the same as finding historical primary resources.
Definition of Primary Sources
Primary source literature in the sciences:
- documents the results of original research
- is written by those who have conducted the research
- includes firsthand information about their methodologies, data, results, or conclusions.
Secondary source literature in the sciences:
- summarizes, compares, critiques, or interprets the primary literature.
Tertiary sources in the sciences:
- are collections of primary and/or secondary sources.