What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?
Answer
Primary Sources
- Primary sources are original documents or objects, first-hand information or the raw material.
- These original documents include diaries, letters, memoirs, journals, speeches, or interviews.
- 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.
- Eye witness accounts, photographs, audio or video recordings, research reports in the natural or social sciences, or original literary or theatrical works are also considered primary sources.
Secondary Sources
- Secondary sources interpret primary sources.
- Secondary sources include comments on, interpretations of, or discussions about the original material. You can think of secondary sources as second-hand information.
- Secondary source materials can be articles in newspapers or popular magazines, book or movie reviews, or articles found in scholarly journals that evaluate or criticize someone else’s original research.
Examples by Subject
There are different types of primary and secondary sources, depending on the subject or area of study/research. Please review Orange Coast College's Primary and Secondary sources guide for examples of primary and secondary sources by subject.