Types of Sources and Where to Find Them: Part II: Secondary Sources

Summary

This tutorial explains the distinction between primary and secondary sources in historical research. Primary sources are original records created during the time of the events, while secondary sources offer interpretations based on analysis of primary materials. Secondary sources, often found in books and journals, help identify scholarly trends and debates on a topic. To find secondary literature, researchers can use online catalogs, databases, encyclopedias, and bibliographies, and should consult with instructors for guidance.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video is a tutorial on the distinction between primary and secondary sources in historical research.
• 🗓️ Primary sources are original materials created around the time of the events they describe, serving as the raw material of historical record.
• 🔍 Secondary sources interpret the past, often based on analysis and synthesis of primary sources, and can include surveys, specific event studies, literary criticism, and theoretical works.
• 📘 Secondary sources are typically found in books, journals, and online resources, and are often published scholarly works rather than supplementary materials like bibliographies or encyclopedias.
• 🤔 Secondary sources are analytical and interpretive, offering new readings of events or synthesizing the work of other historians for new interpretations.
• 🔎 To identify secondary literature, one can use subject searches in online catalogs, article databases, and consult published bibliographies or specialized resources.
• 🌏 Important databases for finding peer-reviewed articles by historians include 'America: History and Life' for North America and 'Historical Abstracts' for the rest of the world since 1450.
• 📚 Subject encyclopedias can provide overviews of topics and bibliographies at the end of entries can lead to major works and their sources.
• 📝 It's essential to keep track of all sources used for future reference and to compile them into a personal bibliography.
• 👨‍🏫 Consultation with an instructor can be beneficial in finding and understanding secondary literature relevant to a research topic.
• 🏛️ The video is presented by the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library of the University of Illinois, emphasizing the importance of understanding different types of sources in scholarly research.

Q & A

What is the main difference between primary and secondary sources according to the video?

Primary sources are the raw material of the historical record, usually created around the same time as the events they document. Secondary sources, on the other hand, are further removed from the historical events and offer interpretations of the past based on analysis and synthesis of primary sources.

What types of materials are considered secondary sources in historical research?

Examples of secondary sources include surveys of broad historical periods, works focusing on specific events or topics, literary and cultural criticism, and works on theory and methodology.

How can secondary sources be found?

Secondary sources can be found in books, journals, or internet resources, and are often published scholarship on a subject.

What are tertiary sources in the context of historical research?

Tertiary sources are supplementary materials like bibliographies, encyclopedias, handbooks, and so forth, which are sometimes referred to as such to distinguish them from primary and secondary sources.

What is the purpose of using secondary sources in historical research?

Secondary sources are used to identify the main currents of thought on a topic, to answer questions about which historians have taken up the topic, their main arguments, and how the understanding of the topic has changed over time.

How can one identify secondary literature for research?

One can identify secondary literature by doing subject searches in the online catalog for books, subject searches in article databases for articles, and consulting standard published bibliographies or specialized bibliographies.

What are some important databases for finding peer-reviewed articles by historians?

Important databases for finding peer-reviewed articles by historians include America: History and Life, which covers the history of North America, and Historical Abstracts, which covers the rest of the world since 1450.

Can secondary literature be found in subject encyclopedias?

Yes, secondary literature can be found in subject encyclopedias, and by looking at the bibliography at the end of an encyclopedia entry, one can find major works of scholarship on the topic and follow up on the sources used by the author.

Why is it important to keep track of all the sources used in research?

It is important to keep track of all the sources used in research to list them in a bibliography of one's own, which is crucial for academic integrity and for others to follow the research trail.

What is the role of an instructor in the process of identifying secondary literature?

An instructor can provide guidance and consultation in the process of identifying secondary literature, helping to ensure that the research is thorough and relevant to the topic.

Who sponsored the video on primary and secondary sources?

The video was sponsored by the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library of the University of Illinois.