Chemistry

Primary - In scientific writing, when a scientist describes their own personal work or original research study it is a primary source. Primary sources include research articles, dissertations, technical reports, or conference papers.  Primary sources are written for a specific audience (usually other scientists or researchers in the field) and to disseminate research findings that allows other scientists to refute or build upon that work.

Secondary - Secondary sources are articles that critique, discuss, or analyze a study. Overall, secondary sources talk about the research conducted by someone else.  Secondary sources include encyclopedias, textbooks, and review articles. One handy trick to tell them apart: since secondary sources are not original research, many, but not all, secondary sources will not have a Methods section.

Hopefully it has become clear why it is preferable to cite primary sources in your scientific paper: if you are referencing a fact or result, you want to refer to the original study that the researcher described in their own words. This helps reduce confusion and mistakes that can result from repeatedly summarizing or paraphrasing a study's result. It also helps to give credit to the original author for their work, and makes it easy for your reader to find the original study you are referencing if they would like to learn more.

However, secondary studies are still useful sources for your research. Secondary sources are especially good resources to direct you to other primary literature and research conducted on your topic. If your professor has not specified which sources you should be looking for, feel free to ask.

Paraphrased from Writing in Biology: A Student Handbook for Writing in Biology, Karen Knisely, 2013, 5th edition, W.H. Freeman and Co

Practice!

• Which of these two articles is primary and which is secondary?
• What elements of each helps you to decide?