Primary, secondary and teriary sources

PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERIARY SOURCES

 PRIMARY SOURCES

Firstly, I have understood that a primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. It is first-hand information and to help the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period.  

Examples of primary sources:

 

SECONDARY SOURCES:

A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them. Some types of secondary sources include:

• PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias 

Examples of secondary sources include:

◦      Journal articles

◦      Books

◦      Radio and TV documentaries

 TERIARY SOURCES

Tertiary sources generally provide an overview or summary of a topic, and may contain both primary and secondary sources. The information is displayed as entirely factual, and does not include analysis or critique.
Tertiary sources can also be collections of primary and secondary sources, such as databases, bibliographies and directories.