1. Introduction
Whether conducting research in the social sciences, the ability to distinguish between primary and secondary source material is essential. Basically, this distinction illustrates the degree to which the author of a piece is removed from the actual event being described, informing the reader as to whether the author is reporting impressions first hand (or is first to record these immediately following an event), or conveying the experiences and opinions of others—that is, second hand.
2. Primary Sources
These are contemporary accounts of an event, written by someone who experienced or witnessed the event in question. These original documents (i.e., they are not about another document or account) are often diaries, letters, memoirs, journals, speeches, manuscripts, interviews and other such unpublished works. They may also include published pieces such as newspaper or magazine articles (as long as they are written soon after the fact and not as historical accounts), photographs, audio or video recordings, research reports in the natural or social sciences, or original literary or theatrical works.
Reviewing primary source material can be of value in improving your overall research paper because they:
- Are original materials,
- Were created from the time period involved,
- Have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation by others, and
- Represent original thinking or experiences, reporting of a discovery, or the sharing of new information.
Examples of primary documents you could review as part of your overall study include:
- Artifacts [e.g. furniture or clothing, all from the time under study]
- Audio recordings [e.g. radio programs]
- Diaries
- Internet communications on email, listservs, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms
- Interviews [e.g., oral histories, telephone, e-mail]
- Newspaper articles written at the time
- Original Documents [i.e. birth certificate, will, marriage license, trial transcript]
- Patents
- Personal correspondence [e.g., letters]
- Photographs
- Proceedings of meetings, conferences, and symposia
- Records of organizations, government agencies [e.g. annual report, treaty, constitution, government document]
- Speeches
- Survey Research [e.g., market surveys, public opinion polls]
- Transcripts of radio and television programs
- Video recordings
- Works of art, architecture, literature, and music [e.g., paintings, sculptures, musical scores, buildings, novels, poems]
3. Secondary Sources
In the social sciences, a secondary source is usually a scholar book, journal article, or digital or print document that was created by someone who did not directly experience or participate in the events or conditions under investigation. Secondary sources are not evidence per se, but rather, provide an interpretation, analysis, or commentary derived from the content of primary source materials.
Reviewing secondary source material can be of value in improving your overall research paper because secondary sources facilitate the communication of what is known about a topic. This literature also helps you understand the level of uncertainty about what is currently known and what additional information is needed from further research. It is important to note, however, that secondary sources are not the subject of your analysis. Instead, they represent various opinions, interpretations, and arguments about the research problem you are investigating–opinions, interpretations, and arguments with which you may either agree or disagree with as part of your own analysis of the literature.
Examples of secondary sources you could review as part of your overall study include:
- Bibliographies
- Biographical works
- Books, other than fiction and autobiography
- Commentaries, criticisms
- Dictionaries, Encyclopedias
- Histories
- Journal articles
- Magazine and newspaper articles
- Textbooks
- Web site also considered primary]
4. Scholarly Journals versus Popular Publications
| Scholarly/ Academic | Popular Magazines | Trade Journals | Newspapers | |
| Author | Scholar or researcher in field with stated credentials and affiliations | Staff writer, journalist, often a generalist | Staff writer, journalist often with expertise in field | Staff writer, journalist, columnist |
| Sources and Documentation | All sources cited; extensive bibliographies, list of references, or notes | No formal citations; original sources may be obscure | No formal citations; may refer to reports; may include a bibliography | May refer to sources in text; no formal list of references |
| Editorial Process | Blind peer-reviewed by multiple experts in the field | Reviewed by a single editor | Reviewed by a single editor | Reviewed by a single editor |
| Purpose | To present research findings and expand knowledge in a discipline or specific field of study | To inform about current or popular events, issues or popular culture; to entertain | To inform those working in the profession of events, products, techniques, and other professional issues. | To inform about current events and issues internationally, domestically, and locally |
| Structure of Articles | Lengthy (10+ pages) articles divided into specific sections, such as, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion | Mix of short articles with in-depth articles on a variety of subjects | Industry specific articles of varying length; report news and trends but no original research | Brief articles, unless feature; may include original research written in a journalistic, investigative style |
| Frequency of Publication | Annually, semi-annually, quarterly, or monthly | Monthly or weekly | Monthly or weekly | Weekly or daily |
| Titles | May contain the words “Journal of”, “Review of” or “Annals”; may contain the name of a discipline or subject area; may be lengthy | Straightforward; may address a general theme or subject; may be one word | Usually short and catchy; may contain the name of a trade or industry [e.g., Grocery Store News] | Simple; usually reflects a city or geographic location |
| Intended Audience | Scholars, researchers, scientists, advanced students | General public | Industry members, professionals, and associated stakeholders | General public, some with specialization (e.g., Wall Street Journal for readers in business) |
| Value and Usefulness in Research | Critical to understanding and analyzing a topic in detail and to design a coherent, well-organized original research study | Limited; news magazines, such as, Time are useful for following current events | Limited to understanding news and trends in specific industries and professions | Essential to following current events; provides local coverage of issues |
