Primary vs. Secondary Sources



Primary Sources of information are original sources. They provide you with firsthand information.
Secondary Sources contain information that has been gathered by someone else. Most nonfiction books, newspapers, magazines, and web sites are secondary sources.

Primary Sources: 

Visiting a grocery store
Interviewing a nutritionist
Talking to a person on a salt-free diet

Secondary Sources:

Visiting a web site about salt in foods
Reading an article about salt in foods
Watching a TV program about salt in the diet

Types of Primary Sources:


  • Diaries, journals, and letters: You can find these sorts of primary sources in libraries and museums.
  • Presentations: Historical sites, museums, guest speakers, and live demonstrations can give you firsthand information.
  • Interviews: You can interview an expert in person, by phone, by email, or through the mail.
  • Surveys and Questionnaires: To gain information from many people at once, have them answer a list of questions.  Then, study the results.
  • Observation and Participation: Observing a person, place, or thing is a common method of gathering firsthand information. So is participating in an event yourself.
TRY IT! Decide for yourself whether each of the following is a primary or a secondary source of information:

1. Listening to a scholar's presentation about an artist's life
2. Viewing an artist's work in a museum

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