Primary source: Difference between revisions

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{{anchor|Science}}In [[scientific literature]], a primary source, or the "primary literature", is the original publication of a scientist's new data, results, and theories.<ref>Open University, [https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=64085&section=4.1 4.1 Primary literature], ''Succeeding in postgraduate study'', Session 5, accessed 22 March 2023</ref> In [[political history]], primary sources are documents such as official reports, speeches, pamphlets, posters, or letters by participants, official election returns, and eyewitness accounts. In the [[history of ideas]] or [[intellectual history]], the main primary sources are [[books]], [[essays]], and [[Scientific journal|letters]] written by [[Intellectual|intellectuals]]; these intellectuals may include [[Historian|historians]] whose books and essays are therefore considered primary sources for the intellectual historian, though they are secondary sources in their own topical fields. In [[religious history]], the primary sources are [[religious texts]] and descriptions of religious [[ceremonies]] and [[rituals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://researchguides.library.tufts.edu/content.php?pid=60919&sid=447878|title=Primary Sources – Religion|website=Research Guides at Tufts University|date=26 August 2014|access-date=15 January 2014}}</ref>

A study of [[cultural history]] could include fictional sources such as [[novels]] or [[Play (theatre)|plays]]. In a broader sense primary sources also include [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] like [[photograph]]s, [[newsreel]]s, [[coin]]s, [[painting]]s or [[building]]s created at the time. Historians may also take oral reports and interviews into consideration. Written sources may be divided into three types:<ref>{{Cite book | last1 = Howell | first1 = Martha C. | last2 = Prevenier | first2 = Walter. | title = From reliable sources: an introduction to historical method | year = 2001 | publisher = Cornell University Press | ___location = Ithaca, N.Y. | isbn = 0-8014-8560-6 | pages =20–22}}</ref>

* '''[[Narrative]] sources''' or '''literary sources''' tell a story or message. They are not limited to fictional sources (which can be sources of information for contemporary attitudes) but include [[diary|diaries]], films, biographies, leading philosophical works, and [[scientific works]].

* '''Diplomatic sources''' include [[charter]]s and other legal documents which usually follow a set format.