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Information Literacy Tutorial for the Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Primary v Secondary Research

Primary versus Secondary Research Research is conducted and submitted for publication Primary source Published peer-reviewed articles Structured format may include: Abstract Introduction Materials and methods Results Discussion Cited references Literature cited Which is Reported in the news or Literature review Secondary source Newspapers Magazines Published articles – review article New York Times logo USA Today logo Time Magazine cover thumbnail

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Primary Sources

 

Some definitions:

  • Original materials on which other research is based.

  • Usually the first formal appearance of results in the print or electronic literature.

  • Present information in its original form, neither interpreted nor condensed nor evaluated by other writers.

  • Are from the time period (for example, something written close to when what it is recording happened is likely to be a primary source.)

  • Present original thinking, report on discoveries, or share new information.

Some examples:

  • Scientific journal articles reporting experimental research results

  • Proceedings of Meetings, Conferences and Symposia.

  • Technical reports

  • Dissertations or theses (may also be secondary)

  • Internet communications on email, listservs, and newsgroups

Secondary Sources

In science, secondary sources are those which simplify the process of finding and evaluating the primary literature. They tend to be works which repackage, reorganize, reinterpret, summarise, index or otherwise "add value" to the new information reported in the primary literature.

Some Definitions:

  • Describe, interpret, analyze and evaluate the primary sources.

  • Comment on and discuss the evidence provided by primary sources.

  • Are works which are one or more steps removed from the event or information they refer to, being written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight.

Some examples:

  • Dictionaries and encyclopedias

  • Handbooks and data compilations

  • Journal articles, particularly in disciplines other than science (may also be primary)

  • Monographs (other than fiction and autobiography)

  • Newspaper and popular magazine articles (may also be primary)

  • Review articles and literature reviews

  • Textbooks

Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Sources
Written by Ward Saylor & Helen Hooper for Information and Research Support, within the Information Services program of the Academic Support Division at James Cook University, July, 2000. 

Original Research Articles vs. Review Articles

It can be difficult to tell the difference between original research articles and review articles.  You can use this chart to help you.

Original Research Articles vs. Review Articles

   

Review
  • The article summarizes, evaluates, and analyzes research related to a certain topic.
  • The article brings together all relevant articles on one subject and summarizes them in one article.
  • Does not contain methods or results sections.
  • Review articles are secondary sources since they review material that was previously published.
  • Can be used for identifying some primary sources, but are not primary sources themselves.

Original Research
  • An original article presents new findings after conducting an experiment.  It will focus on the author’s specific study.
  • Original articles are primary sources.
  • Will often contain the following elements: Methods, Results, and Discussion.

 

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.

Primary vs Secondary image Words Side by Side

Primary and Secondary sources PRIMARY Not interpreted Not filtered Original Creative By witness of event or first recorder From the time of the event SECONDARY Interpreted Summarized Not original Replica? No physical connection to person or event After the event Differ by discipline