Primary Sources

 Some definitions of primary sources:

1.   Primary sources are original materials on which other research is based

2.   They are usually the first formal appearance of results in the print or electronic literature (for example, the first publication of the results of scientific investigations is a primary source.)

3.  They present information in its original form, neither interpreted nor condensed nor evaluated by other writers.

4.   They are from the time period (for example, something written close to when the event actually occurred.

5. Primary sources present original thinking and report on discoveries or share new information.

Some examples of primary sources:

1.        Scientific journal articles reporting experimental research results

2.        Proceedings of Meetings, Conferences.

3.        Technical reports

4.        Dissertations or theses (may also be secondary)

5.        Patents

6.        Sets of data, such as census statistics

7.        Works of literature (such as poems and fiction)

8.        Diaries

9.        Autobiographies

10.      Interviews, surveys and fieldwork

11.      Letters and correspondence

12.      Speeches

13.      Newspaper articles (may also be secondary)

14.      Government documents

15.      Photographs and works of art

16.      Original documents (such as birth certificate or trial transcripts)

17.      Internet communications on email, and newsgroups

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