Physics: More Research Help

Primary Sources in the Sciences are not exactly like primary sources in history or literature.  They are most often found as journal articles, and

• Report original research, ideas, or scientific discoveries for the first time
• Report results/findings/data from experiments or research studies
• May also be referred to as primary research, primary articles, or research studies
• DO NOT include meta-analyses, systematic reviews, or literature reviews - these are secondary sources
• Are frequently found in peer-reviewed or scholarly journals
• Should explain the research methodology used (randomized controlled trial, etc)
• Almost always include separate parts of the article called "methods," "results," and discussion or conclusions
  
• Are factual, not interpretive

Examples of primary sources include:

• Research studies or scientific experiments
• Papers and proceedings from scientific conferences or meetings
• Dissertations and Theses
• Technical Reports
• lab notebooks published online
  
• Patents

Secondary sources  may also be useful, but you should be able to distinguish them from primary sources.  These typically involve reviews of the primary literature, meta-analysis of data from multiple primary sources, or editorial writing.  Examples of these secondary sources are:

• Publications about the significance of research or experiments
• Reviews of the results of several experiments or trials
• Analysis of a clinical trial
• Letters to the editor, editorials, perspectives, or historical summaries