LibGuides: How to Research Guide (NPU): Primary & Secondary Sources

Primary and Secondary Sources

A primary source is an original document/image, the results of an experiment, statistical data, first-hand account, or creative work.
A secondary source is something written about or using primary sources.

Primary	Secondary
The text of The Gettysburg Address	An analysis of The Gettysburg Address
Census data for Detroit	A book about demographic changes in Detroit
A McDonald's commercial	A documentary about McDonald's advertising
The results of an experiment or clinical trial	An overview of different treatments options
An interview with a World War II veteran	A history book about World War II

Video by Davenport University Library