Review of Literature - Different Sources

Learning Outcomes 

• Differentiate between primary and secondary sources in research.
• Identify characteristics of reliable primary and secondary sources.
• Develop skills to locate and access relevant sources.
• Evaluate the credibility and relevance of sources for a research topic.
• Learn to synthesize information from both types of sources.
• Understand how to present a balanced literature review.
• Analyze interpretations of primary sources in secondary sources.
• Use sources effectively to support academic arguments.
• Ensure proper citation to maintain ethical research practices.

Review of Literature – Different Sources

There are two types of sources: primary and secondary.

Primary Source

    A primary source is an original material created at the time a historical event occurs, or soon afterward, and can be original documents, creative works, material published in modern times, institutional and government documents, or relics and artifacts. Primary sources will usually be the main objects of your analysis. Primary sources provide raw information and first-hand evidence. Primary research gives you direct access to the subject of your research. Primary sources provide a first-hand account of an event or time period and are considered to be authoritative. They are created by witnesses or recorders at or near the time of the event. They have not been filtered through further interpretation or evaluation. Primary sources such as research articles often do not explain terminology and theoretical principles in detail. Thus, readers of primary scholarly research should have foundational knowledge of the subject area.

Examples of Primary Sources

    Examples include interview transcripts, statistical data, and works of art. Diaries, letters, memoirs, personal journals, speeches, manuscripts, direct interviews, and other unpublished works can be primary sources and typically serve as the main objects of an analysis or research work. Published pieces, including newspaper or magazine articles, photographs, audio or video recordings, research reports in the natural or social sciences, or original literary or theatrical works are all considered primary sources.  Theses, dissertations, scholarly journal articles (research based), some government reports, symposia and conference proceedings, original artwork, poems, letters, memos, personal narratives, autobiographies, and correspondence.

Secondary Source         

Secondary sources are created by someone who did not experience firsthand or participate in the events or conditions being researched. Secondary sources are used to interpret and analyze primary sources. They are used to interpret, assign value to, conjecture upon, and draw conclusions about the events reported in primary sources. Secondary sources provide second-hand information and commentary from other researchers. Thus, secondary research describes, interprets, or synthesizes primary sources. Secondary sources are works that analyze, assess or interpret a historical event, era or phenomenon. Secondary sources put primary sources in context. They comment, summarize, interpret or analyze information found in primary sources. This type of source is written for a broad audience and will include definitions of discipline specific terms, history relating to the topic, significant theories and principles, and summaries of major studies/events as related to the topic. Use secondary sources to obtain an overview of a topic and/or identify primary resources.

Examples of Secondary Sources

    Textbooks, edited works, books, and articles that interpret or review research works, histories, biographies, literary criticism and interpretation, reviews of law and legislation, political analyses, and commentaries are all examples of secondary sources. Examples include journal articles, reviews, and academic books. Publications such as magazine articles, book reviews, commentaries, encyclopedias, almanacs.

Figure 1

Examples of Primary and Secondary Sources

Conclusion

Primary sources are more credible as evidence, but good research uses both primary and secondary sources.

Figure 2

Primary vs. Secondary Sources (comic)

Table 1

Difference between Primary Sources and Secondary Sources 

Primary Sources	Secondary Source
Primary Sources are immediate, first-hand accounts of a topic, from people who had a direct connection with it.	Secondary Sources are one step removed from primary sources, though they often quote or otherwise use primary sources.
Primary sources convey first-hand experience of the event or time period you’re studying.	Secondary sources convey the experiences of others, or “second-hand” information; they often synthesize a collection of primary sources.
They represent original thinking, reports on discoveries or events, or they can share new information.	They often attempt to describe or explain primary sources.
They are usually the first formal appearance of original research.	Secondary sources involve analysis, synthesis, interpretation, or evaluation of primary sources.
Examples of primary sources include manuscripts, newspapers, speeches, cartoons, photographs, video, and artifacts.	Examples of secondary sources include textbooks, articles, and reference books.
They contain raw information and thus, must be interpreted by researchers.	Secondary sources often use generalizations, analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of primary sources.

Figure 3

Different Disciplines

Figure 4

Concept Map 

Reference

Scribbr. (n.d.). Primary and secondary sources. Scribbr. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/primary-and-secondary-sources/

 Western Governors University. (2023, April 23). What’s the difference between primary and secondary sources? Western Governors University. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-difference-between-primary-secondary-source2304.html

 UNSW Library. (n.d.). Primary and secondary sources. University of New South Wales Library. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://www.library.unsw.edu.au/using-the-library/information-resources/primary-and-secondary-sources

 University of Maryland, Baltimore. (n.d.). Primary and secondary sources. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://umb.libguides.com/PrimarySources/secondary

University of Minnesota Crookston. (n.d.). Primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. University of Minnesota Crookston. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://crk.umn.edu/library/primary-secondary-and-tertiary-sources

National University. (n.d.). Primary and secondary sources. National University. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://resources.nu.edu/researchprocess/primaryandsecondary

University of California, Merced. (n.d.). Source types. UC Merced Library. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://libguides.ucmerced.edu/source-types

 Sam Houston State University. (n.d.). Primary and secondary sources. Sam Houston State University Library. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://shsulibraryguides.org/c.php?g=86883&p=637550

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