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WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
The first step to understanding sources is knowing how to classify sources. This section will introduce the categories of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, which focus on the information a source contains. All sources you encounter will fall into one of these categories. This section will help you recognize the differences.
WHAT TO DO:
WHAT TO DO:
Read the information about the three categories of sources.
Review at the examples.
Take Self-Check Quiz.
Go to Part 2, Source Types.
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
These three categories - primary, secondary, and tertiary - let you know if the author is providing original information or reporting on someone else's original information. The closer the author is to the information, the more accurate the information is likely to be.
Think of the categories as being part of a pyramid. Primary, or original, sources are at the top, secondary sources fall in the middle, and tertiary sources are near the bottom. Secondary sources report on primary sources, and tertiary sources include both primary and secondary sources. This means when you're doing research, your best sources of information are primary sources and those secondary sources which add context, evaluation, or other insights to the primary source.
Primary Sources
Primary Sources
Primary sources are at the top of the pyramid. They provide first-hand observations or direct evidence concerning the topic under investigation, whether that is an event, one's own research results, or some phenomenon that is happening. They are created by witnesses or recorders at or near the time of the event. They have not been filtered through further interpretation or evaluation.
Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources
Secondary sources are the middle layer of the pyramid. They include works that analyze, assess or interpret a historical event, era or phenomenon like literature reviews or meta-analyses. They may use primary sources to to write a review, critique, or interpretation often well after the event. Secondary sources may also report on research done by others.
Source Categories
Source Categories
Tertiary Sources
Tertiary Sources
Tertiary sources fall near the bottom of the pyramid. This doesn't mean they are "bad", just that they are used to discuss, identify, or locate primary and secondary sources. Some examples include dictionaries, encyclopedias, fact books, and indexes. It can be difficult to distinguish between secondary and tertiary sources sometimes, so pay close attention.
PROTIP: Tertiary sources are rarely used as a source in a research paper.
A Note About Social Media
A Note About Social Media
Social media posts can fit in all the above categories, depending on the content of the post. Here are a few tricks to navigating the whirlwind of Instagram, TikTok, X (previously Twitter), and everything else out there!
Pay attention to the type of post. Ask yourself these questions:
Is the poster sharing information from some place other than the social media site (like an article or a webpage)?
If they are commenting on this outside information, the comments would be considered a secondary source.
If they are simply reposting an article or webpage, track the post back to that original information and start from there.
Is the poster sharing someone else's original post?
If they are commenting on the original post, that comment would be considered a secondary source.
If they are simply reposting without commentary, track the post back to its original author and start from there.
Is the content an original post by the poster?
This is likely a primary source, but you should evaluate the information carefully!
A great example of this is someone posting about an event they are experiencing in real time - this post can be considered a primary source about that event!
Examples of Classification Types
Examples of Classification Types
Specific primary and secondary sources can vary depending on the discipline. Let's take a look at some examples.
Humanities and History
Humanities and History
Primary Sources
Primary Sources
Look for sources that are:
Creative works like fiction, music, or art
Speeches, interviews, or correspondence, which are public records of an individual's words or thoughts
News articles and footage because they are records of events as they happen
Autobiographies, which are a first-person account of someone's life
Personal memories of events recorded by those who experienced them, like diaries, journals, and memoirs
Social media posts that are original to the poster, not sharing or reposting other information
Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources
Look for sources that are:
Literary criticism, which analyze, interpret, or critique a literary work's value
Historical analysis, which uses a broader historical context to explain or interpret historical events
Explanation or exposition of literary works or historical events, like commentaries
Biographies, or works that are an author's account of another person's life
Social media posts that share articles or websites with commentary, or that repost someone else's post with commentary
Sciences and Social Sciences
Sciences and Social Sciences
Primary Sources
Primary Sources
Look for sources that:
Report on original research, ideas, or scientific discoveries for the first time
Report results/findings/data from experiments or research studies
Are referred to as primary research, primary articles, or research studies
Report on case studies or cohort studies
Explain the research methodology used (randomized controlled trial, etc)
Include methods, results, and discussion sections
Are factual, not interpretive
Are original laboratory notes or data, or technical reports
Social media posts that are original to the poster, not sharing or reposting other information
Information from MSU Library
Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources
Look for sources that:
Discuss or compare other authors' original studies
Conduct meta-analyses or systematic reviews
Are literature reviews
Summarize research by others
Analyze another author's research results or methodologies
Social media posts that share articles or websites with commentary, or repost someone else's post with commentary
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