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Sociology and Criminology: Primary vs. Secondary Sources
This guide aims to help you with your sociology research.
Primary sources deliver information directly, without a third party translating. Topic and context affect whether a source is considered a primary source. Interviews often work as primary sources.
Primary Sources
Original document; first hand information on a topic or event; original research or thought.
Examples:
Original creative works (art, music, poetry, etc.)
Scholarly research
Results of scientific experiments
Results of clinical trials
First hand account of an event
Government records (births, census, deaths)
Secondary Sources
Sources that analyze, evaluate, interpret, describe, or criticize original documents.