More about Primary Sources
Although many primary sources are old, a
document does not have to be old and brittle to be a primary
source. For instance, an email is a primary source, but an email
forwarded from a third party is a secondary source.
A primary source in one subject may be a secondary source in
another. A secondary resource like a textbook, a journal article
or biographical work might contain historical facts or original
research from another author that were interpreted by the
author in a certain way, in order to further a particular
argument. This is particularly true for materials in certain
subjects, like history, anthropology and other social sciences.
For the most part, secondary sources are derived works
that interpret primary sources in some way.
Remember that a primary source for one discipline many not
qualify as one in another subject. For example, an article in a
scientific journal would be a primary source because it presents
original data and research, but an article in a historical journal
would not, since it is based on the conclusions or interpretation
of the author.
Additional Information
Lyons, Kenneth. (2001-2005). How to Distinguish between
Primary and Secondary Sources. Santa Cruz: University
Library, University of California Santa Cruz. Retrieved 12 June
2007 from the World Wide Web: http://library.ucsc.edu/ref/howto/primarysecondary.html
Whitson, B. and Phillips, M. (1998-2007). Library Research
Using Primary Sources. Berkeley: Library, University of
California, Berkeley. Retrieved 12 June 2007 from the World Wide
Web: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/PrimarySources.html
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