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