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Chinese History and Culture

Primary V.S. Secondary sources in Sciences

Examples of sources that can be primary or secondary

"A secondary source can become a primary source depending on your research question. If the person, context, or technique that produced the source is the main focus of your research, it becomes a primary source." (Streefkerk, 2023)

Documentaries
If you are researching the causes of World War II, a recent documentary about the war is a secondary source. But if you are researching the filmmaking techniques used in historical documentaries, the documentary is a primary source.

 

Newspaper articles
If your aim is to analyze the government’s economic policy, a newspaper article about a new policy is a secondary source. But if your aim is to analyze media coverage of economic issues, the newspaper article is a primary source.

 

Reference:
Streefkerk, R. (2023). Primary vs. Secondary Sources | Difference & Examples. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/primary-and-secondary-sources/

Try the quiz to test your understanding of the concepts!

Which of the following articles is a Primary Research Article? 

1. Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health
Article 1 link: https://polyu.hk/qykTV

2. Examining associations between area-level spatial measures of housing with selected health and wellbeing behaviours and outcomes in an urban context
Article 2 link: https://polyu.hk/DEfuE

Subjects: Humanities