Information can be found in either primary or secondary sources.
Primary information sources refer to original documents. Primary sources have not been edited or reinterpreted.
Examples of Primary sources include:
- journal articles (original research)
- conference papers
- theses and dissertations
- government publications
- clinical trials
- legislation, case law, and standards
- original artworks
Secondary information sources refer to materials that analyse, interpret, or comment on primary sources.
Examples of Secondary sources include:
- journal articles (literature reviews)
- textbooks
- dictionaries
- encyclopedias
- documentaries
- biographies
Research publications can also draw on primary and secondary research data.
Examples of Primary research data include:
- interviews
- focus groups
- clinical trials
- experiments
- observations
Examples of Secondary research data include:
- literature reviews
- systematic reviews
- scoping reviews
- meta-analyses