Not Sure Where to Begin?
When performing research, you will come across a variety of information from a variety of different places. All of these sources can be classified as either primary or secondary sources.
Primary Source
Primary Source: Official record of an event that is written, recorded or created by people present at it.
Examples - Original published results of a clinical trial, research study or scientific experiment, live interviews, transcripts, or recordings, diaries, letters, first-person accounts, photographs, maps, creative works from a time period, social media tweets, texts, status updates, original blogs or Reddit AMAs.
Secondary Source
Secondary Source: Interpretation or analysis of data, a study or report. A second-hand account of an event.
Examples - Criticisms and reviews, magazine articles, newspaper articles, Pins on Pinterest, re-tweets, shared post, or links to other content
Understanding the source of the information you are researching can help you make an informed decision on the authority of the person presenting it.
