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
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•
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•
•
•
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
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•
•
•
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
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•
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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
ArtStor database
Dictionary on Theory
of Relativity
Manual on using
invention
Encyclopedia on Civil
Rights Movement
Textbook on clinical
psychology
Guide to the movie