This work (Constitution of the United States, page 1), identified by National Archives and Records Administration, is free of known copyright restrictions.
This guide will introduce students to three types of resources or sources of information: primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Definition of a Primary Source:
Primary sources are firsthand documents that provide direct evidence on your topic.
The Library of Congress refers to them as the "raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience."
A primary source is most often created during the time the events you are studying occurred, such as newspaper articles from the period, correspondence, diplomatic records, original
research reports and notes, diaries etc. They may also include items created after the events occurred, but that recount them such as autobiographies and oral histories.
Types of Primary Sources
Diaries | Art works | Pottery |
Speeches | Novels | Decorative arts |
Correspondence | Poetry | Clothing |
Interviews | Music | Buildings |
Manuscripts | Architectural drawings/plans | Textiles |
Government Documents | Photographs | Needlework |
News film footage | Film | |
Archival Materials | ||
Autobiographies |
Secondary Sources
Definition of a Secondary Source:
Secondary Sources are accounts written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. They are interpretations and evaluations of primary sources. Secondary sources are not evidence, but rather commentary on and discussion of evidence.¹
¹ Yale University Library, "Primary, secondary & tertiary sources" //guides.library.yale.edu/content.php?pid=129904&sid=1196376
Types of Secondary Sources
Bibliographies |
Biographical works |
Commentaries, criticisms |
Conference proceedings |
Essays or reviews |
Histories |
Literary criticism such as journal articles |
Magazine and newspaper articles |
Monographs, other than fiction and autobiographies |
Reprints of art works |
Textbooks (could also be considered tertiary) |
Websites (could also be considered primary) |
Tertiary Sources
Definition of a Tertiary Source
A tertiary source presents summaries or condensed versions of materials, usually with references back to the primary and/or secondary sources.
Types of Tertiary Sources
Almanacs |
Abstracts |
Dictionaries |
Encyclopedias |
Handbooks |
Primary and Secondary Sources in Law
Primary Source in Law:
A statement of the law itself from a governmental entity, such as a court, legislature, executive agency, President or Governor.
Secondary Source in Law:
Materials that discuss, explain, interpret, and analyze what the law is or what it should be.
Examples of Primary and Secondary Sources in law
Code of Federal Regulations | Articles about law |
Contracts, wills, other legal documents | Books about law |
Court decisions | Law reference books |
Federal Registrar | Law reveiws |
US Code | Legal news |
Text of legislative bills |
These are sources that you are likely to encounter when doing academic research.
Questions? Ask us!
Scholarly publications (Journals)
A scholarly publication contains articles written by experts in a particular field. The primary audience of these articles is other experts. These articles generally report on original research or case studies. Many of these publications are "peer reviewed" or "refereed". This means that scholars in the same field review the research and findings before the article is published. Articles in scholarly publications, in most cases:
are written by and for faculty, researchers, or other experts in a field
use scholarly or technical language
include a full bibliography of sources cited in the article
are often peer reviewed (refereed)
To see the typical components of a scholarly journal article check out the Anatomy of a Scholarly Article page from North Carolina State University Libraries.
Popular sources (News and Magazines)
There are many occasions on which reading articles from popular sources can help to introduce you to a topic and introduce you to how that topic is being discussed in society. Articles in popular sources, in most cases:
are written by journalists or professional writers for a general audience
written in a language that is easy to understand by the general public
rarely have a bibliography - rather, they are fact-checked through the editorial process of the publication they appear in
don't assume prior knowledge of a subject area - for this reason, they are often very helpful to read if you don't know a lot about your subject area yet
may contain an argument, opinion, or analysis of an issue
Professional/Trade sources
Trade publications are generally for practitioners. They are focused on a specific field but are not intended to be "scholarly". Rather, they communicated the news and trends in that field. Articles in trade publications, in most cases:
are written by practitioners in a field (nurses, teachers, social workers, etc)
use the language (and jargon) of the field
Books / Book Chapters
Many academic books will be edited by an expert or group of experts. Often, books are a good source for a thorough investigation of a topic. Unlike a scholarly article, which will usually focus on the results of one research project, a book is likely to include an overview of research or issues related to its topic.
Conference proceedings
Conference proceedings are compilations of papers, research, and information presented at conferences. Proceedings are sometimes peer-reviewed and are often the first publication of research that later appears in a scholarly publication (see above!). Proceedings are more commonly encountered (via databases and other searching) in science and engineering fields that in the arts and humanities.
Government Documents
The Government Printing Office disseminates information issued by all three branches of the government to federal depository libraries (including NMSU). Additionally, the many departments of the government publish reports, data, statistics, white papers, consumer information, transcripts of hearings, and more. Some of the information published by government offices is technical and scientific. Other information is meant for the general public.
Theses & Dissertations
Theses and dissertations are the result of an individual student's research while in a graduate program. They are written under the guidance and review of an academic committee but are not considered "peer-reviewed" or "refereed" publications.