Overview
This lecture explains the differences between primary and secondary sources, highlighting their roles in academic research across various disciplines.
Types of Sources
- There are two main types of sources: primary and secondary.
- Primary sources are the direct, original evidence or first-hand accounts for a discipline.
- Secondary sources are materials created using primary sources, such as books and articles.
How Disciplines Define Sources
- The definition of primary and secondary sources varies by discipline.
- In history: primary = first-hand account; secondary = article about that account.
- In literature: primary = novel or poem; secondary = article about the work.
- In science: primary = empirical study; secondary = article about someone else's study.
Determining Source Type
- Whether something is a primary or secondary source depends on its content and your research focus.
- The same source can be primary in one context and secondary in another.
Example: The Ukrainian Terror-Famine
- Historians use first-hand letters as primary sources to study the Terror-Famine.
- A scholar's article using those letters is a secondary source about the event.
- If studying the scholar, that same article becomes a primary source about the scholar.
Value of Primary vs. Secondary Sources
- Primary sources are not inherently better than secondary sources.
- Secondary sources provide useful analysis and can offer insights not obvious from primary sources alone.
- Both source types contribute to building new knowledge in academic research.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Primary Source — Original, direct evidence or first-hand account related to a topic.
- Secondary Source — Material created by analyzing or interpreting primary sources.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples of primary and secondary sources in your discipline.
- Reflect on how you plan to use your sources for your research topic.