Primary+and+Secondary+Research


 * Primary material **is first-hand information. Primary material can include:
 * Interviewing experts
 * Surveying the public
 * Visiting to observe others then recording your observations and learning
 * Original documents, phographs, maps, music and audio recordings etc.

Using primary material in your work not only adds credibility to your argument, but it demonstrates that you are an expert researcher.

**Secondary material** interprets and comments on primary material. Each secondary source created can potentially provide a different interpretation of the significance of the primary source. Secondary sources can include:
 * Newspapers, magazines, and books if they summarise or comment on the work or observations of others
 * TV programmes e.g. the news, if they summarise or comment on the work or observations of others
 * Most websites, unless they contain original thoughts, research or material.

It can be hard to know which secondary source to trust. If you're not sure:
 * Look at the original primary source that the secondary source is based on and make up your own mind
 * Look for the most current secondary source
 * Look at several other secondary sources to get an overview of what people think


 * Answer these questions in your Research Journal:

1. In your own words, explain the difference between primary and secondary sources. 2. List the primary sources you could use for your Research Project 3. Explain why it is important to evaluate and verify secondary sources. How will you do this? **