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Geology

Every science database includes a mix of primary and secondary resources.  While many databases allow you to separate scholarly sources from popular sources, they do not do this for primary and secondary sources.  To identify whether a source is primary or. secondary, you must examine each item to ensure it was written by the researchers who conducted the original experiment.

Identifying Sources

  Primary Secondary
Importance
  • Present brand new research
  • Report results, facts, or finding from an experiment or research study
  • Written by the researchers who did the research
  • Typically include a methods & materials section
  • Provide factual information about the research, NOT interpretation
  • Analyze one or more primary sources
  • Can be written in response to a primary article
  • Do NOT contain original research
  • Not written by the people who did the original research
Uses
  • Finding recent data
  • Obtaining Information about a very specific topic (for example, the results of a random trial for a new COVID vaccine)
  • Finding broader information on a topic (for example, a book or article about AIDS research)
  • Analysis or interpretation of current research

Use the criteria above to determine whether a source is primary or secondary.  This will help you accurately identify and utilize the appropriate resources for your research.

Types of Primary Sources

  • Scholarly articles that present brand new research
  • Conference papers or proceedings
  • Technical Reports (USGS, Dept. of Natural Resources)
  • Datasets
  • Diaries, Interviews
  • Lab and Field Notebooks
  • Studies or Surveys

Types of Secondary Sources

Secondary sources in the sciences are written with less technical language so that they appeal to a broader audience - not just for those studying or working in a specific field.  Secondary sources are also not the original source of information, and they lack the detailed description of experiments/research found in primary sources.

Some examples of secondary sources:

  • Review articles
  • Books
  • Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
  • Newspaper articles
  • Handbooks