Primary sources vary by discipline.
In history, primary sources are original records that provide firsthand evidence to understand a historical event or period.
In literature, primary sources are the original texts (e.g., novels, short stories, plays, etc.).
In the arts, primary sources are original works of art or music.
In the natural or social sciences, the results of an experiment or study are typically found in scholarly articles or conference papers; these articles and papers that present original results are considered primary sources.
It can be difficult to tell the difference between original research articles and review articles. You can use this chart to help you.
You can also read the article abstract for clues. If you see phrases such as "we tested" and "in our study, we measured", it will tell you that the article is reporting on original research.
Tertiary sources are condensed versions of information, compiled from primary and secondary sources. Think of it as a summary that doesn't add new analysis or interpretation.
A primary source is firsthand information created at the time of the event or topic being studied or a firsthand account of an event later recalled by an eyewitness. Think of it as the raw material of history or research.
A secondary source analyzes, discusses and interprets primary sources. They are materials that have been created AFTER an event has happened.
Journals, magazines, and newspapers are serial publications that are published on an ongoing basis.
Many scholarly journals in the sciences and social sciences include primary source articles where the authors report on research they have undertaken. Consequently, these papers may use the first person ("We observed…"). These articles usually follow a standard format with sections like "Methods," "Results," and "Conclusion."
In the humanities, age is an important factor in determining whether an article is a primary or secondary source. A recently-published journal or newspaper article on the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case would be read as a secondary source, because the author is interpreting an historical event. An article on the case that was published in 1955 could be read as a primary source that reveals how writers were interpreting the decision immediately after it was handed down.
Serials may also include book reviews, editorials, and review articles. Review articles summarize research on a particular topic, but they do not present any new findings; therefore, they are considered secondary sources. Their bibliographies, however, can be used to identify primary sources.
When looking at a resource to determine whether it is primary or secondary, words that describe the action of the author can be helpful. For example, words like these can indicate actual research carried out:
In secondary resources, since the focus is on analyzing or discussion of a primary source, you would look for words that describe the action of the author indicating that this is an analysis or discussion, such as:
You will need to examine the abstract and/or the article to determine if the resource is primary or secondary. While the words above can help indicate the type of resource, this is not a cut and dried process where if you see a particular word, that means the resource is always primary.
Locating a findings section in an article doesn't mean the source is either primary or secondary. Check to see whether the authors did the research themselves, or whether they analyzed research done by others.
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/evaluating/sources
A primary research article reports on an empirical research study conducted by the authors. It is almost always published in a peer-reviewed journal.
This type of article:
Words to look for as clues include: analysis, study, investigation, examination, experiment, numbers of people or objects analyzed, content analysis, or surveys.
A question to ask yourself when trying to identify primary or secondary sources is:
Did the person writing the thing do the thing?
While this may sound odd, the best indicator that something is a primary source is if the author of the piece actually DID the work that led to the creation of the resource.