HIS 141: History of the Modern World : Types of Sources

Learn about the differences between primary and secondary sources in the context of historical research. 

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In general, there are two types of sources of information: primary and secondary.  It is important to understand these information types and to know when each source is appropriate to use in coursework.

Primary Sources

Primary sources are original materials on which other research is based.  These sources are usually a document or result that is being reported first hand.  Primary sources are original sources that are not interpretations made by someone else. 

Examples of Primary Sources

• Works of Fiction
• Diaries 
• Interviews
• Official Documents (census data & legal texts)
• Objects (archaeological findings)
• Numeric Data
• Original Research & Fieldwork 

Secondary Sources

Secondary Sources are sources that describe or analyze primary sources.  These sources value, discuss, or comment on the primary source, and use primary sources to create their own work. 

Examples of Secondary Sources

• Reference Materials (dictionaries & encyclopedias)
• Book or Article Reviews
• Research Articles that Interpret, Review, or Synthesize 

Three Types of Publications

1. Scholarly Sources: intended for academic use with specialized vocabulary and extensive citations.  They are often peer-reviewed and help to answer the question "so what?/why does it matter?"  
2. Popular Sources: intended for the general public, and are typically written to entertain, inform, or persuade.  They help to answer "who, what, when, and where" questions, and range from research-oriented to propaganda-focused.  
3. Trade Publications: share general news, trends, and opinions within a certain industry.  They are not considered scholarly, because they do not focus on advanced research nor are they peer-reviewed, even though they are generally written by experts.