What kind of materials are considered primary sources?

Primary sources are original materials that provide direct evidence or first-hand accounts of an event, phenomenon, or time period. Interview transcripts qualify as primary sources because they capture the first-hand experiences or opinions of individuals concerning the subject of study. They offer researchers raw data that can be analyzed to draw conclusions, understand perspectives, or gain insights that are not filtered through secondary interpretations.

In contrast, critiques of literature, textbooks, and summaries of research findings represent secondary sources. These materials interpret, analyze, or summarize information that was originally presented in primary sources. This distinction is critical in research because primary sources serve as the foundation upon which further understanding can be built, while secondary sources may provide valuable context but do not offer the original viewpoints or data.