Definition: Raw data; original sources of information before it has been analyzed.
Characteristics: First-hand observations, contemporary accounts of events, viewpoints at the time.
Examples: Interviews, speeches, diaries, letters, photos, birth certificates, journal articles (science), magazine/newspaper articles written at the time.
Definition: Sources that analyze or interpret primary data. They do not offer new evidence.
Characteristics: Interpretations of information, written after the event, offer review or critique.
Examples: Biographies, journal articles, textbooks, commentaries, editorials, literary criticisms.
Definition: Sources that compile data on a particular topic.
Characteristics: Collections or lists of primary and secondary sources, reference works, finding tools for sources.
Examples: Encyclopedias, bibliographies, abstracts, indexes, literature reviews, library catalogs, databases.
Adapted from https://guides.library.stonybrook.edu/c.php?g=546629&p=3868835
Distinguishing between the three types of sources will vary according to context and situation. For example, if you’re analyzing how Canadian history was depicted in middle school textbooks in the 1980s, then the textbooks would be considered a primary source rather than a tertiary one. Also, different disciplines define primary sources differently.
It is important to examine primary sources with a critical eye. Below are some questions to consider once you've found a primary source(s):
RUSA's Guide to Evaluating Primary Sources:
The 6 C's of Primary Source Analysis:
Adapted from https://libguides.usc.edu/primarysources/evaluate