| Types of Sources | Definition | Characteristics | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Original documents created or experienced concurrently with the event being researched. | First hand observations, contemporary accounts of the event. Viewpoint of the time. | Interviews, news footage, data sets, original research, speeches, diaries, letters, creative works, photographs |
| Secondary | Works that analyze, assess, or interpret a historical event, an era, or a phenomenon. Generally uses primary sources. | Interpretation of information, usually written well after an event. Offers reviews or critiques. | Research studies, literary criticism, book reviews, biographies, textbooks |
| Tertiary | Sources that identify, locate, and synthesize primary AND secondary sources. | Reference works, collections of lists of primary and secondary sources, finding tools for sources. | Encyclopedias, bibliographies, dictionaries, manuals, textbooks, fact books |
Examples of Primary and Secondary Sources by Discipline
