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Research 101

Types of Sources

Types of Sources

Resource Type Definition Examples
Primary Original materials or evidence directly related to the topic being studied, created by witnesses or first recorders of an event in the past. Diaries, speeches, original research, historical documents, photographs, and artifacts.
Secondary Materials that interpret, analyze, or summarize primary resources. Textbooks, articles, reviews, and biographies.
Tertiary/Reference Resources that compile, digest, or summarize information from primary and secondary sources. Encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, and almanacs.