LibGuides: HIST/SHUM Race, the Nation & American Outdoor Recreation: Primary/Secondary

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

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When doing any kind of research, all the types of information you use are your sources. Those sources are usually divided into primary and secondary sources, and you often need to use both. So, just what are primary and secondary sources?

Well, in general, a primary source is an original, first hand piece of information, while a secondary source interperets that primary, original information. It's also important to distinguish between a primary source in humanities fields (history, literature, religion, etc) vs. the sciences. In the humanites, a primary source is a document from the time or place studied--Lincoln's Gettysburgh Address, for example. In the sciences, on the other hand, a primary source is usually an original empirical study reported in a peer-reviewed journal (examined by experts in the field before publication).

Primary vs Secondary: Humanities & Sciences

Definitions

	Humanities	Sciences
Primary Source	Original, first-hand account of an event or time period Usually written or made during or close to the event or time period Original, creative writing or works of art Factual, not interpretive	Report of scientific discoveries Results of experiments Results of clinical trials Social and political science research results Factual, not interpretive
Secondary Source	Analyzes and interprets primary sources Second-hand account of an historical event Interprets creative work	Analyzes and interprets research results Analyzes and interprets scientific discoveries

--created by By Susan Thomas, CUNY Library