Primary Sources vs. Secondary Sources
Primary Sources are immediate, first-hand accounts of a topic, from people who had a direct connection with it. Primary sources can include:
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Texts of laws and other original documents.
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Newspaper reports, by reporters who witnessed an event or who quote people who did.
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Speeches, diaries, letters and interviews - what the people involved said or wrote.
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Original research.
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Datasets, survey data, such as census or economic statistics.
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Photographs, video, or audio that capture an event.
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Raw data.
Secondary Sources are one step removed from primary sources, though they often quote or otherwise use primary sources. They can cover the same topic, but add a layer of interpretation and analysis. Secondary sources can include:
- Most books about a topic.
- Analysis or interpretation of data.
- Scholarly or other articles about a topic, especially by people not directly involved.
- Documentaries (though they often include photos or video portions that can be considered primary sources).
Selected Titles in Asian Studies
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Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture by ISBN: 9780231500043Publication Date: 2000-09-05 -
Asian Economic Integration in an Era of Global Uncertainty by ISBN: 9781760461768Publication Date: 2018 -
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Finding eBooks - Short form
APPsearch
finds books, ebooks, streaming media, and articles from several dozen databases.
Librarian Contact Information
Finding Books
Library Catalog
The catalog provides access to the library holdings of Appalachian State University (books, movies, music scores, music CDs, government documents, audiobooks, and more).
