Primary source research involves using original materials that document events or evidence as they were first described or happened, without interpretation or commentary. Primary sources are the raw materials of history, and they can include historical and legal documents, eyewitness accounts, and creative writing. They can also be empirical studies, such as research where an experiment was performed or a direct observation was made.
Here are some examples of primary sources:
- Other: Interviews, surveys, fieldwork, and Internet communications via email, blogs, listservs, and newsgroups
- Documents: Letters, diaries, minutes, newspaper articles, journal articles, research studies, memoirs, and autobiographies
- Creative writing: Speeches, art objects, and pieces of creative writing
Primary sources are different from secondary sources, which are accounts that retell, analyze, or interpret events, usually at a distance of time or place. Secondary sources provide second-hand information and commentary from other researchers, such as journal articles, reviews, and academic books. Good research often uses both primary and secondary sources.
