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ANTH/SOC/CRIM 390: Research Methods

Scholarly vs Popular

 

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Primary & Secondary Sources

The term primary source is used broadly to embody all sources that are original. Primary sources provide firsthand information that is closest to the object of study. 

  • Original reports of research found in academic journals detailing the methodology used in the research and in-depth descriptions and discussions of the findings are considered primary sources of information.  These sources are often referred to as empirical.
  • Other common examples of primary sources include speeches, letters, diaries, autobiographies, interviews, official reports, court records, artifacts, photographs, and drawings.

A secondary source is a source that provides non-original or secondhand data or information. 

  • Secondary sources are written about primary sources. Literature review articles are secondary sources these can be excellent resources to get a better understanding of the topic, as well as in finding empirical articles written on a topic. 
  • Research summaries reported in textbooks, magazines, and newspapers are considered secondary sources. They typically provide global descriptions of results with few details on the methodology. Other examples of secondary sources include biographies and critical studies of an author's work.

Galvan, J. L. (2013). Writing literature reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak.

Persaud, N. (2010). Primary data source. In N. Salkind (Ed.), Encyclopedia of research design. (pp. 1095-1098). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Secondary Source. (2005). In W. Paul Vogt (Ed.), Dictionary of Statistics & Methodology. (3rd ed., p. 291). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Weidenborner, S., & Caruso, D. (1997). Writing research papers: A guide to the process. New York: St. Martin's Press.