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A secondary source is a piece of information that has been indirectly derived from a primary source. In other words, it is a document or piece of information that has been created based on the analysis or interpretation of a primary source.
Secondary sources are an important part of the research process, as they allow researchers to gain a deeper understanding of a topic by providing additional context and analysis. They are often used in conjunction with primary sources, which are original documents or sources of information that were created during the time period being studied.
Examples of secondary sources include textbooks, biographies, histories, and critical analyses. These sources often provide a summary or interpretation of primary sources, rather than presenting the original information directly.
It is important to distinguish between primary and secondary sources, as they serve different purposes in the research process. Primary sources offer a direct, firsthand account of an event or phenomenon, while secondary sources provide a more distant and analytical perspective. Researchers should carefully consider the reliability and credibility of both primary and secondary sources when conducting research.
Secondary Source: Definition & Examples
The Distinction is Important Both primary and secondary sources have value in the literary world and the historical or political. Slip laws are the first form of. Fact or Fiction It is common to think of primary and secondary sources as factual, but this has no bearing on the definition of a secondary source. For example, a news report about a current event should include a lot of the same information as other reports on the subject. If you consume vegetables in winter, you're probably getting those from Southern California, so from farm products to general economic health, not only do these things resonate throughout the rest of the country but throughout the rest of the world.
Was the author present at the event or the creation or discovery of the information? Each text will have its own bias and will look at the subject from a different angle, so by reading secondary sources you are engaging with multiple interpretations of the same event. Secondary sources can show you where ideas come from and why they matter. Harvard Login for full text access 1947- is the National Library of Medicine's index to biomedical journal articles. Thanks to our online tools, we can help you identify plagiarism or prevent it from coming across your desk. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. First and foremost, secondary sources are often less costly and time consuming than collecting original materials.
Secondary source materials can also be articles in newspapers, popular magazines, or scholarly journals that discuss or evaluate someone else's original research or literary work. Despite this heavy dependence on secondary sources, the author seems unaware of much that has been published on the work of Lutyens and his disciples in New Delhi such as my own article in the AR for June 1976 on Medd and Shoosmith, the latter the architect of the amazing Garrison Church, for which Volwahsen gives an inadequate account , although perhaps he could not be expected to be aware of either Jane Ridley's The Architect and His Wife nor the collectio n of essays on Lutyens Abroad edited by Andrew Hopkins and myself, both of which were published last year. Some sources have incorrect information. Think about how your source's analysis adds to or differs from yours. Represents Information Accurately Any quotes or facts used should match the primary source they came from. Secondary sources include comments on, interpretations of, or discussions about the original material.
But, when citing or referencing information, knowing this distinction is crucial. Because we are telling our friends about the movie or the book the original materials , and they are not watching or reading it for themselves, we are a secondary source. The same is true for primary sources. However, these elements are not incorporated as a whole. In this way, a secondary source is not only a second-hand telling, but it is not a complete representation of the primary source either.
What Are the Different Types of Secondary Sources? Examples are law review articles, encyclopedias, and books. Copyleaks can help you validate a source, so there is never a question about the information you are looking through, regardless of the purpose. Secondary sources involve generalization, analysis, interpretation, or evaluation of the original information. When selecting secondary sources, evaluate for credibility. Argumentative sources offer unique perspectives on a subject. You draw conclusions about what it was like from these primary sources.
Example: "Psychology, clinical" and "historical article". Function of Secondary Sources The function of secondary sources is to interpret original materials. Need more support for your arguments? There is also a chance that a secondary source could be outdated. Identify Important Ideas and Opinions on a Subject Most subjects have key works that are important to understanding a subject. These sources may lead you to key primary sources as well as other secondary sources. It can help you make your point more soundly and well-rounded.
Primary and secondary are relative terms, and some sources may be classified as primary or secondary, depending on how it is used. Find secondary sources that offer similar arguments to yours. Not all records in PubMed have MeSH terms. Others misrepresent the primary sources they cite. They both explain and interpret. Secondary sources are sources which describe an event, but did not originate in the time period they describe. You can use the There may already be a detailed list of sources, a bibliography, for your topic.
You can't think of everything! Key works are considered the first or most important works on a subject. Secondary sources are defined as any sources that provide second-hand explanations of a subject. These texts will have a bibliography and a list of references. . A project you complete, if consulted by someone else and used in their research, is a secondary source. Sometimes, the boundary between primary and secondary sources can be blurry.
Whether citing a major current event or citing historical knowledge, the distinction between what is a primary source and what is a secondary source plays a significant role. Learning is Our Passion This entry about Secondary Source has been published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3. Uses Incorrect Quotes from Primary Sources The source may change words in a quote or cite the wrong primary source when giving a quote. They are the second time the event has been described or depicted. A secondary source contrasts with a primary source, which is an original source of the information being discussed; a primary source can be a person with direct knowledge of a situation, or a document created by such a person. Secondary sources are usually produced after an event has occurred. You are writing an essay about the history of the US influenza pandemic.
Harvard login is the primary bibliographic reference to the history of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present. How do I know if my material is a secondary source? The most accurate classification for any given source is not always obvious. The world has changed, and no longer are books in libraries the only place for valid information. Disadvantages exist as well. This bibliography will include the works that inspired the research, or were quoted within the text itself. This is a primary source because it has not been published, and the ideas have not been demonstrated. This might make your article more impactful, as well as insightful.
