Primary vs Secondary Sources: What's the Difference?
Primary Sources...
- are uninterpreted sources of information.
- allow you to examine evidence firsthand without being affected by other intermediary opinions.
- allow you to draw comparisons between your assessments and the conclusions of others.
- may be scattered and disorganized.
- are sometimes described by their formats (e.g., letters and diaries as opposed to books).
Secondary Sources...
- interpret the "primary" literature, or guide readers to the primary material.
- make information more accessible by repackaging it in a more accessible form.
- are far removed from the original event.
- are sometimes described by their formats (e.g., books, journals, textbooks, anthologies, etc.)
You might also check out the "What's A Journal?" Minute Module for the most up-todate information on distinguishing between different kinds of sources!
For further descriptions of primary resources, see:
Library Research Using Primary Resources
Yale University Primary Resources Research
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