1 Chapter 1 Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
Before we get into a discussion of three different types of sources, let’s first define what we mean by a source. Merriam-Webster defines a source as “a person or publication that provides information.” Different types of sources offer different kinds of information. Here are three types of sources you will encounter throughout the day:
Primary sources are first-hand accounts (or “the thing itself”) relating to a subject or event. These would fall on the first step of the information timeline. Examples include diaries, survey data, studies, photographs, etc. Let’s say that you would like to do some research on your genealogy. Any materials about your family history that you encounter, such as immigration records, photographs, or letters, also count as primary sources!
Primary sources can differ based on contexts, mediums, and applications. In the field of history, you may encounter a primary source such as a Civil War era diary or a newspaper article announcing the sinking of the Titanic. Historical primary sources can also be objects. Museum pieces such as artworks or clothing constitute a primary source. In nursing, however, primary sources mean something different! A primary source in nursing refers to original research studies. Literature reviews report on original research studies, and so can be considered secondary sources.
How a source is used can also determine whether it can be considered a primary source. For example, a U.S. history textbook containing images and portions of letters and speeches is a tertiary source. But let’s say that you are writing a report on how teaching U.S. history has evolved for your education course. For your report, that textbook would be a primary source.
You may be asked to utilize primary sources or original research in your class assignments. Where you find this information and how you evaluate it are important steps in the research process. This textbook will cover where and how to find primary sources in your library and elsewhere in Part II.
Secondary sources are interpretations of an event. They often rely on primary sources to share information. Examples include scholarly books, documentaries, newspaper articles, etc. You can also use secondary sources, such as a historical documentary, for your family history research to gain a better understanding of the historical contexts your family lived in.
Tertiary sources compile or organize primary and secondary sources. Examples include dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, etc. Both of these will fall farther along the information timeline on the right side. Compilations of information such as a listing of birth records can be helpful in your genealogy research.
