Literature/Reference Types

In science writing, we use and create different types of information. These types are referred to
as primary or secondary, references (also called sources or literature), based on the proximity of
the information to the source or origin. When an author reports information that is first hand, this
report is a primary source. If an author is conveying the experiences and opinions of others, this
may be secondary. The following table summarizes the differences between primary and
secondary sources.
Primary Source Secondary Source
Definitions Original materials that have not Sources that contain Informed
been filtered through commentary on or a discussion
interpretation or evaluation by a about primary sources.
second party (i.e. original
materials created by the
researcher).
Timing of publication Primary sources tend to come Secondary sources tend to come
cycle first in the publication cycle. second in the publication cycle.
Formats - depends on Studies reported in a journal Review articles,
the kind of analysis article, conference papers, magazine articles, and books
being conducted. dissertations, interviews, written by other experts in the
laboratory notebooks, patents, a field.
survey reported in a journal
article, government reports and
technical reports.
Citations Always. Authors will cite other Always. If scholarly review
supporting or refuting studies article, all studies summarized and
and cite study using a variety ofcompared will be cited. If
formats magazine
depending on journal. article or books, citations may be
more loosely organized, but will
still be credited.
Example: Article in scholarly journal Articles analyzing and
Scientists studying reporting research and commenting on the results of
Genetically Modified methodology. original research; books doing the
Foods. same.
Table modified from: Primary and Secondary Sources for Science | University Libraries,
University at Albany, State University of New York. (2015, September 4). Retrieved January 3,
2018, from http://library.albany.edu/infolit/prisci.