Primary, Secondary, & Tertiary Sources

sccclibrary

5 Jun 201202:23

Summary

TLDRThis script explores the three types of sources for research: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary sources are original creations, like artifacts, documents, and current news, offering direct evidence. Secondary sources analyze and interpret primary materials, often found in articles and books. Tertiary sources synthesize information from primary and secondary sources, such as encyclopedias. The script provides examples from art and physics to illustrate the distinctions and their applications in research.

Takeaways

📚 Primary, secondary, and tertiary sources are the three types of sources used for research.
🌟 A primary source is an original idea, concept, or creation that is current with the time period it was created.
🗞️ Primary sources include artifacts, personal journals, letters, e-mails, text messages, and newspaper articles reporting current events.
🎨 Creative works like photographs, paintings, sculptures, poetry, novels, and articles with original research are considered primary sources.
🔍 Secondary sources provide interpretation, analysis, and commentary on primary sources, often found in articles, books, and websites.
📝 An example of a secondary source is an article discussing the results of an experiment published in a journal.
📚 Tertiary sources compile information from primary and secondary sources, commonly found in reference works like encyclopedias and dictionaries.
🔑 There can be an overlap between secondary and tertiary sources, with the defining qualities dependent on the institution and discipline.
🖌️ For an art topic, a primary source could be a painting by Mark Rothko, while an analysis of the painting or artist would be secondary.
📘 A tertiary source in art could be an encyclopedia entry on the artist or the painting.
🌌 For a physics topic, a primary source might be Einstein's paper on the General Theory of Relativity, with a secondary source discussing the theory and a tertiary source being an encyclopedia entry on the subject.

Q & A

What are the three types of sources used for research as mentioned in the script?
-The three types of sources used for research are Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary sources.
What is a primary source according to the script?
-A primary source is an original idea, concept, or creation that is current with the time period in which it is created.
Can you provide examples of primary sources mentioned in the script?
-Examples of primary sources include artifacts, personal journals, diaries, letters, e-mails, text messages, newspaper articles reporting current events, photographs, paintings, sculptures, poetry, novels, and articles or books recounting original research and studies.
What is the role of secondary sources in research?
-Secondary sources offer interpretation, analysis, and commentary on primary sources.
How does the script differentiate between a primary and a secondary source in the context of a scientific experiment?
-If a scientist publishes the results of their experiment in a journal, that is a primary source. Another researcher who publishes an article discussing the results of this experiment creates a secondary source.
What are common forms of secondary sources as per the script?
-Secondary sources are commonly found as articles in newspapers, magazines, and journals, as well as books and websites.
What constitutes a tertiary source?
-Tertiary sources offer information that has been gathered and distilled from primary and secondary sources.
Give examples of tertiary sources as mentioned in the script.
-Common examples of tertiary sources are reference works like encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, handbooks, and fact books.
Is there an overlap between secondary and tertiary sources according to the script?
-Yes, there can be and often is an overlap between secondary and tertiary resources.
How does the script relate the qualities defining each source type to the institution and discipline?
-The qualities that define each source type are dependent on your institution and your specific discipline.
Can you provide an example from the script on how to differentiate primary, secondary, and tertiary sources in art research?
-In art research, a primary source could be a painting by Mark Rothko. A secondary source would be an article or book analyzing this painting or the artist, while a tertiary source would be an encyclopedia containing entries on either.
What is an example of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources in the context of physics research according to the script?
-In physics research, a primary source could be the paper 'The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity' by Albert Einstein. A secondary source would be an article discussing this theory, and a tertiary source would consist of an encyclopedia entry on the Theory of Relativity.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Primary Sources

The script introduces the concept of primary sources as original ideas, concepts, or creations that are contemporary to the time they were created. It includes a variety of materials such as artifacts, personal journals, diaries, letters, e-mails, text messages, newspaper articles reporting current events, photographs, paintings, sculptures, poetry, novels, and other artistic and creative works. Additionally, it mentions articles and books that recount original research and studies as primary sources.

🔍 Secondary Sources: Analysis and Commentary

This section explains secondary sources as interpretations, analyses, and commentaries on primary sources. It uses the example of a scientist publishing original research in a journal, which is a primary source, and another researcher writing an article about the experiment's results, making it a secondary source. Secondary sources are commonly found in newspapers, magazines, journals, books, and websites, and they often provide further insights or perspectives on primary materials.

📚 Tertiary Sources: Reference Works

The script describes tertiary sources as information gathered and distilled from both primary and secondary sources. It highlights reference works such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, handbooks, and fact books as common examples of tertiary sources. It also notes that there can be an overlap between secondary and tertiary resources, and the defining qualities may vary depending on the institution and specific discipline.

🎨 Applying Source Types to Research Topics

The final part of the script provides examples of how to apply the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources to specific research topics. It gives the example of researching art, where a primary source could be a painting by Mark Rothko, a secondary source could be an analysis of the painting or the artist, and a tertiary source could be an encyclopedia entry on the artist or painting. Similarly, for a physics topic, the primary source could be Albert Einstein's paper on the General Theory of Relativity, a secondary source could be an article discussing the theory, and a tertiary source could be an encyclopedia entry on the subject.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Primary Source

A primary source refers to an original work or evidence that was created during the time period it represents. It is crucial for understanding the video's theme as it lays the foundation for what constitutes authentic, firsthand information. In the script, examples include artifacts, personal journals, diaries, letters, e-mails, text messages, newspaper articles reporting current events, and original research articles.

💡Secondary Source

A secondary source is content that interprets, analyzes, or provides commentary on primary sources. It is vital for the video's narrative as it explains how information is processed and understood in a broader context. The script illustrates this with an example of a researcher publishing an article discussing the results of another's experiment, making it a secondary source.

💡Tertiary Source

Tertiary sources compile and distill information from primary and secondary sources, often serving as reference materials. They are key to the video's message about synthesizing knowledge. Examples given in the script include encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, handbooks, and fact books.

💡Research

Research is the methodical investigation into a subject to discover facts, principles, or new knowledge. It is central to the video's theme as it drives the need for understanding different types of sources. The script mentions original research and studies as examples of primary sources.

💡Artifacts

Artifacts are objects made by humans, especially those with historical or cultural interest. They are highlighted in the script as a type of primary source, emphasizing their role in providing tangible evidence from a specific time period.

💡Journals

Journals are periodicals that contain scholarly articles and research. They are integral to the video's discussion on primary sources, as they often publish original research findings, making them a direct source of information.

💡Interpretation

Interpretation in the context of the video refers to the act of explaining or understanding the meaning of something, particularly primary sources. It is key to understanding how secondary sources add value by offering insights into primary materials.

💡Analysis

Analysis is the detailed examination of the elements or structure of something, often to understand its components or to draw conclusions. The video uses this term to describe how secondary sources break down primary sources for deeper understanding.

💡Commentary

Commentary provides an opinion or explanation, often on a particular topic or event. In the video, it is mentioned as a function of secondary sources, which can offer expert opinions on primary source material.

💡Reference Works

Reference works are publications that provide factual information and are used for looking up specific data or information. They are highlighted in the script as typical tertiary sources, summarizing knowledge from primary and secondary sources.

💡Discipline

In the context of the video, a discipline refers to a specific field of study or learning. It is important as it determines how sources are categorized and used within a particular academic or professional domain, affecting the definition and use of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.

Highlights

Primary, secondary, and tertiary are the three types of sources used for research.

Primary sources are original ideas, concepts, or creations from the time period they were created.

Primary sources include artifacts, personal journals, diaries, letters, e-mails, text messages, and newspaper articles reporting current events.

Photographs, paintings, sculptures, poetry, novels, and other artistic and creative works are considered primary sources.

Articles and books recounting original research and studies are classified as primary sources.

Secondary sources provide interpretation, analysis, and commentary on primary sources.

A scientist publishing the results of their experiment in a journal is an example of a primary source.

A secondary source is an article discussing the results of an experiment published by another researcher.

Secondary sources are commonly found in newspapers, magazines, journals, books, and websites.

Tertiary sources offer information gathered and distilled from primary and secondary sources.

Reference works like encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, handbooks, and fact books are examples of tertiary sources.

There can be overlap between secondary and tertiary resources, with definitions varying by institution and discipline.

An example of a primary source in art research is a painting by Mark Rothko.

A secondary source in art research is an article or book analyzing a painting or the artist.

A tertiary source in art research is an encyclopedia containing entries on the painting or artist.

In physics research, a primary source could be Albert Einstein's paper 'The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity'.

A secondary source in physics would be an article discussing Einstein's theory of relativity.

A tertiary source in physics is an encyclopedia entry on the Theory of Relativity.