Primary Sources
The majority of your scientific reports will be based on experimental data and your own observations, in other words, on primary sources of information. Primary sources of information include first-hand accounts of experiments and investigations and anything that is original such as:
- original or first-hand research, found in some journal articles
- eyewitness accounts
- letters, diaries and autobiographies
- interviews and questionaires
- reports of government departments
- annual reports and minutes
Example of a Primary Source
An example of a primary source would be an online journal article reporting experimental research results. For example:
Murphy, A., 1991, ‘Chemical removal of nitrate from water’, Nature, vol. 350, no. 6315, pp. 223-225, Retrieved: May 2, 2011, from ProQuest.
Secondary Sources
Secondary information sources interpret, analyse or describe primary sources and events – they are at least ‘one step away’ from the actual event. Many books and articles contain secondary information, including textbooks and scholarly reviews.
Example of a Secondary Source
An example of a secondary source would be a review in a scientific magazine. For example:
Pearce, F., 2008, 'Tracking the winds of climate change', New Scientist, vol. 198, April 26, pp. 48-49.
