Primary Secondary and Tertiary Sources Information collected from
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Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources Information collected from: http: //www. lib. umd. edu/tl/guides/primary-sources
Primary Sources • Primary sources are original materials • They are from the time period involved and have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation • Primary sources are original materials on which other research is based
Primary Sources: Examples • • • Artifacts Audio recordings (e. g. radio programs) Diaries Letters Newspaper articles written at the time Photographs Speeches Video recordings (e. g. television programs) Works of art
Secondary Sources • Accounts written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight • They are interpretations and evaluations of primary sources • Secondary sources are not evidence, but rather commentary on and discussion of evidence
Secondary Sources: Examples Bibliographies Biographical works Commentaries and criticisms Dictionaries, Encyclopedias or other reference books • Textbooks • •
Tertiary Sources • Collections of primary and secondary sources • Generally, they are focused on collection of information
Tertiary Sources: Examples • • • Almanacs Chronologies Directories Fact books Guidebooks Manuals
Here’s a non-fancy chart: SUBJECT Art and Architecture PRIMARY Painting by Manet Chemistry/Life Einstein's diary Sciences Engineering/Physical Patent Sciences Humanities Letters by Martin Luther King Social Sciences Notes taken by clinical psychologist Performing Arts SECONDARY Article critiquing art piece Biography on Einstein's life NTIS database Web site on King's writings Magazine article about the psychological condition Movie filmed in 1942 Biography of the director TERTIARY Art. Stor database Dictionary on Theory of Relativity Manual on using invention Encyclopedia on Civil Rights Movement Textbook on clinical psychology Guide to the movie
