Sources are materials external to the writer or researcher that contribute to the development or support of the claims in a text.
PRIMARY SOURCES provide direct evidence that can be used to build an argument or develop a hypothesis. It may include maps, debates, public records, official government documents, social media posts, databases, fieldnotes, survey results, results from an experiment, observations, letters, interviews, speeches, diaries, audio recordings, videos, photographs, newspaper accounts, historical artifacts, material culture, and more.
SECONDARY SOURCES are sources that address, discuss, analyze, or comment on information or evidence previously presented elsewhere (primary sources). These can include books, magazines, newspapers, journals, databases, biographies, reviews, commentary, and journal articles. Research driven by secondary sources involves the summary and synthesis of existing research. Secondary research is contrasted with primary research in that primary research involves the generation of data, whereas secondary research uses primary research sources as sources of data for analysis.
TERTIARY SOURCES consist of information which is a distillation and collection of primary and secondary sources. Examples include Wikipedia, almanacs, bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals, guidebooks, textbooks, and indexes.
The context and the way a source is used determines whether it is a primary, secondary, or tertiary source. In some contexts, the same source can be considered a primary or secondary source depending on the focus of what is being written. For example, if a writer is writing about war in Ukraine, an article used to support or illustrate their argument may be seen as a secondary source, but if another writer used the same article to analyze how the war is being written about, it would be considered a primary source. (Here is a Belk Library handout on PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND TERTIARY SOURCES.)
POPULAR SOURCES are typically written by journalists for the general public. They are written in a conversational style and are meant to entertain or persuade.
SCHOLARLY SOURCES are written by and for academic audiences and researchers. They are researched, technical in style and tone, and peer-reviewed. They are written to engage with one's disciplinary discourse community and advance knowledge in a specific discipline, and they contain a bibliography or list of references.
TRADE/PROFESSIONAL SOURCES are written for people working in the field. They contain some jargon and technical terms and often have an editorial board. Outside research is referred to but no formal bibliography is given. (Here is a Belk Library page on POPULAR, TRADE, AND SCHOLARLY SOURCES.)
Questions about sources, finding different types of sources, and availability of resources should be directed to the Appalachian State Library. Here is a Belk Library video on Popular and Scholarly Sources.