Primary and Secondary Sources

Researchers rely on both primary and secondary sources to investigate a research question. Each type of source serves a different purpose.

What Is a Primary Source?

Primary sources provide original evidence documenting a time period, an event, a work, a person, or an idea. They exist in a variety of formats, including physical and digital documents, images, texts, artworks, etc. Primary sources can be different for different subjects or research areas, but they always provide original, first-hand, or direct information.

What Is a Secondary Source?

A secondary source restates, examines, or interprets information found in a primary source. Secondary sources provide description or analysis of primary sources, but are not themselves direct evidence for the topic or issue studied.