Secondary sources are always biased, in one sense or another, so engaging with the primary source yourself allows you to view the topic objectively. Primary and secondary sources complement each other – looking at both can give you a deeper understanding of each.

Secondary sources can include books, journal articles, speeches, reviews, research reports, and more. Generally speaking, secondary sources are written well after the events that are being researched.

Their experiences and biases will color how the information is presented. Two different authors can interpret the same piece of original material in two wildly different ways. As such, secondary sources are unreliable as primary points of evidence.

Common examples of secondary sources include academic books, journal articles, reviews, essays, and textbooks. Anything that summarizes, evaluates or interprets primary sources can be a secondary source.

Examples of a secondary source are: Publications such as textbooks, magazine articles, book reviews, commentaries, encyclopedias, almanacs.

In most cases, the author of a textbook interprets prescribed theories of a topic and would, therefore, be a secondary source. Finally, if you were to research the development of textbooks during a specific time period, then a textbook could be used as a primary source.

are materials that have been used, recycled and sold for use in manufacturing. These products allow for less reliance on the search for new raw resources for items such as paper, aluminum and plastic.

Notice, journal articles are listed for the sciences as a primary source and a secondary source for non-scientific disciplines. At the top of the graphic is the publishing timeline. In the research timeline, secondary sources are generally consulted first to provide needed context for primary source research.

Scholars writing about historical events, people, objects, or ideas produce secondary sources because they help explain new or different positions and ideas about primary sources. These secondary sources generally scholarly books, including textbooks, articles, encyclopedias, and anthologies.

There are several main criteria for determining whether a source is reliable or not.

1. 1) Accuracy. Verify the information you already know against the information found in the source.
2. 2) Authority. Make sure the source is written by a trustworthy author and/or institution.
3. 3) Currency.
4. 4) Coverage.

Secondary sources provide good overviews of a subject, so are particularly useful if you need to find about an area that’s new to you. They are also helpful because you can find keywords to describe a subject area, as well as key authors and key references that you can use to do further reading and research.

A secondary source is a mediary between you and the primary source. Secondary sources can also help your credibility as a writer; when you use them in your writing, it shows that you have done research on the topic, and can enter into the conversation on the topic with other writers.

Secondary source: Some types of sources can be categorized as either primary or secondary depending on how they are used. And yes, in case you’re wondering, a dictionary is a secondary source of information.

A secondary source is an interpretation, analysis, discussion or evaluation of an event or issue that is based on primary source evidence. Secondary sources list, summarize, compare, and evaluate information and studies so as to draw conclusions or present on the current state of knowledge on a topic.

Disadvantages of secondary sources: quality of research may be poor; not specific to researcher’s needs; possible incomplete information and not timely.

How to conduct Secondary Research?

1. Identify the topic of research: Before beginning secondary research, identify the topic that needs research.
2. Identify research sources: Next, narrow down on the information sources that will provide most relevant data and information applicable to your research.

Gathering statistics online is an example of secondary research.

For example, if a business sells school supplies, its primary market may be parents of school-aged children. Its secondary target market may be teachers who purchase extra supplies for their classroom.

Basic Steps in the Research Process

1. Step 1: Identify and develop your topic. Selecting a topic can be the most challenging part of a research assignment.
2. Step 2 : Do a preliminary search for information.
3. Step 3: Locate materials.
4. Step 4: Evaluate your sources.
5. Step 5: Make notes.
6. Step 6: Write your paper.
7. Step 7: Cite your sources properly.
8. Step 8: Proofread.