In research, primary sources and secondary sources are used to do different things.
Primary sources are first-hand evidence of people, organizations, or events. Examples of primary sources include
- autobiographies,
- letters,
- diaries or journals,
- photographs,
- literature,
- scientific data, and
- social media posts.
Secondary sources are documents used to analyze, interpret, or study people, organizations, or event. Examples of secondary sources include
- peer reviewed articles,
- scholarly books,
- government reports, and
- documentary films.
Watch the video below to gain a better understanding of primary and secondary sources, and how to use them in your research.
