Using the Source
What is considered a primary source can vary depending on how you are using the source.
For example, if you were analyzing how authors of popular magazine articles discussed the Boeing 737 MAX crashes, the magazine articles would serve as your primary sources. However, if you cited from a magazine article for your research paper on airline safety, the magazine would serve as a secondary source.
In the fields of art and design, primary sources might include original artwork, design prototypes, sketches, architectural plans, or exhibition catalogs. If your focus is on analyzing these works or understanding their historical context, they function as primary sources. On the other hand, if you cite from a review or critique of an artwork for a research paper, that review becomes a secondary source.
Different Disciplines
Disciplines may be more or less likely to work with specific types of primary sources. See this chart for examples. If you are unsure what is considered a primary source in your discipline, consult with your faculty instructor.
| Discipline | Humanities | Sciences | Social Sciences | Art and Design |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Source Examples | creative works, diaries, interviews, news footage, maps | results of experiments, research and clinical trials | census data, statistics, results of experiments on human behavior | original artworks, design sketches, architectural plans, fashion prototypes, exhibition catalogs |
| Secondary Source Examples | books, journal articles, textbooks | books, journal articles, textbooks | books, journal articles, textbooks | art and design critiques, books on design theory, journal articles about art movements |
| Tertiary Source Examples | reference materials, databases | reference materials, databases | reference materials, databases |
design encyclopedias, databases of artworks, design reference materials |
Adapted from UC Merced Library