Natural Science: Primary Sources in the Sciences

• Conference Papers
• Correspondence
• Dissertations
• Diaries
• Interviews
• Lab Notebooks
• Notes
• Patents
• Proceedings
• Studies or Surveys
• Technical Reports
• Theses

• Criticism and Interpretation
• Dictionaries
• Directories
• Encyclopedias
• Government Policy
• Guide to Literature
• Handbooks
• Law and Legislation
• Monographs
• Moral and Ethical Aspects
• Political Aspects
• Public Opinion
• Reviews
• Social Policy
• Tables

Primary sources in the sciences are different than primary sources in the social sciences and humanities. This section defines what the difference is between a primary and secondary source with examples.  

To find scientific primary sources for your research papers, use the science databases suggested in the Journal Articles section.

What is a primary source?

Primary sources are:

• First hand/original data document or record

What is a secondary source?

Secondary sources are:

• Published/unpublished work that summarizes, anlayzes, and/or evaluates the original source of work.

What is peer-reviewed?

Peer-reviewed or refereed articles are articles that have gone through a vigorous process of approval by a panel of experts in that particular field before publication. Through this process of selection, the idea is that these articles are considered credible sources of information and the best in the field.       

How to identify a peer-reviewed article?

To identify if an article is peer reviewed or referred you must check if the journal that the article is published in is peer-reviewed. The link provided demonstrates the steps neccessary to identify if a journal is peer reviewed by using Ulrich's International Periodical Directory.

Abstract

Introduction

- thesis

- research question(s)

- discussion on other research in field

Methodology

- how the research was conducted in relation to thesis

Results

- data collected and analyzed

Discussion

- discussion of other research in field

Conclusion

Bibliography/References