When you investigate the topic of your research paper, you use a variety of print, electronic, audio, and video resources to find the information you need. Sources are divided into the following categories:
Primary sources are original documents, literary works, or first-hand accounts that are directly related to the subject and that were written in the time period you are studying. Examples of primary sources are literary works, scientific reports, newspaper articles, speeches, manuscripts, and autobiographies.
Secondary sources are documents that analyze and interpret primary sources. Examples of secondary sources are literary criticism, reviews, textbooks, and history books.
For example, if you were writing a research paper about changing family structure in the United States, you would use the results of the U.S. Census as a primary source and a research study about modern American families as a secondary source.
If you need help in identifying relevant primary and secondary sources for your research paper, ask a librarian for some advice.
Types of Sources
There are a variety of sources you can use to conduct research on a specific topic. See below for a list of resources that are available to you when writing a research paper:
encyclopedias – a source of thousands of facts about a various topics in an alphabetized set of books or housed in an online format
biographical references – resources that provide information about a person’s life; these could be books, magazine articles, interviews, news reports, etc.
almanacs – annual reference books of useful and interesting facts relating to countries of the world, sports, entertainment, etc.
dictionaries
the Internet – allows individuals to access a wide range of websites, videos, articles, and media
media – newspapers, radio, television, interviews, periodicals that document current and past events
abstracts – a summary of a text, scientific article, document, speech, etc.
bibliographies – a list of sources used in a research paper or project
government publications – documents produced by government agencies, such as reports, studies, and statistics
academic journals – scholarly publications that contain articles written by experts in a specific field
books – written works that provide in-depth information and analysis on a particular topic
archives – collections of historical records or documents
interviews – firsthand accounts obtained through direct conversations or question and answer sessions
historical documents – original records from the past, such as letters, diaries, and official records
statistical data – numerical information presented in tables, graphs, or charts
films and documentaries – visual media that provide information and analysis on a subject
field research – data collected firsthand by researchers in a specific setting or through direct observation
thesis and dissertations – research papers submitted as part of an academic degree
conference proceedings – records of papers presented at a conference or symposium
experimental studies – research conducted in a controlled environment to test a hypothesis or answer a research question.