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Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources: Examples

Find out how to recognise primary, secondary and tertiary information sources

Primary, secondary and tertiary sources

Primary, secondary and tertiary examples

Discipline Primary source Secondary source Tertiary source
Art Original artwork Article critiquing the original artwork Art index
Engineering Patent Derwent patents index A guide to using patent literature
History Explorer's diary Book about exploration APAIS
Literature Poem Treatise on a particular genre of poetry MLA
Psychology Notes taken by a clinical psychologist Monograph on the condition Dictionary of psychology
Science Journal article reporting original coral research Review of recent coral research Encyclopedia of marine science
Theatre Recording of a performance Biography of the playwright Chronology of the play

 

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