Secondary sources are widely exploited in different kinds of articles writing. Their exploiting is intended to better topic understanding and primary sources easier and faster analysis. Yet, any writer should realize how to exploit secondary sources properly to reach better outcomes in the end.
Primary vs Secondary Sources
Primary sources are scientific research works related to the topic, original studies, journal articles, books, and other academic works based on first-hand experience, observation, examination and research.
Meanwhile, secondary sources provide analysis of the primary sources and origins of the topic. This way you will retrieve summary, review, and analysis on the topic under study and attain additional meaning and ideas on specific concepts and topic in general.
How to Use Secondary Sources Properly
You must follow certain principles to be able to identify, analyze, and exploit secondary sources properly:
- Identify the source – secondary sources come in form of newspaper articles, encyclopedic articles, and more, in which a thorough overview and thoughts on primary source are provided.
- Use credible information – collect information and ideas only from trustworthy sources. Don’t rely on a single source only, avoid vague and ambiguous statements.
- Don’t skip primary sources – remember that secondary sources are used as additional ones to perceive and analyze the topic easier. Yet, the primary sources should be studied thoroughly and exploited in your research paper as well.
Conclusion
Secondary sources are inevitable items in the research process. They assist on deeper concepts and topic analysis, add to understanding and realization of the field under study, highlight significant ideas and items of the primary research. Exploit only reliable peer-reviewed secondary sources, combine them with primary sources, take most out of them to improve your research paper to a great extent.
