Primary and Secondary Sources in the Sciences
Primary and Secondary Sources in the Sciences
Sources of information are generally categorized as primary, secondary or tertiary depending on how close they are to the original event or information. The designation between secondary and tertiary sources is very difficult to make and often unimportant.
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Some comparative examples of primary and secondary/tertiary sources:
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DISCIPLINE |
PRIMARY |
SECONDARY/TERTIARY |
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ENGINEERING |
Patent |
Patent Index |
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SCIENCE |
Journal article reporting original coral research |
Article reviewing recent coral research. |
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MEDICINE |
Report on a clinical trial of a cancer drug, or a case report of a cancer patient. |
A book about cancer. |
The designations of primary, secondary and tertiary differ between disciplines or subjects. Primary sources in the humanities and social sciences might be defined differently than primary sources in the sciences.
Adapted from the guide at the JCU library written by Ward Saylor & Helen Hooper
Last modified: 8/28/2008 1:57 PM by M. Potter
