The type and detail of information required/Primary and secondary sources

Much research demands that the researcher access both primary and secondary sources of information. To define the two types of sources:
1  A primary source is one that is a record of events as they are first recorded without analysis or commentary. It may be a set of data, such as census  statistics, that has been set out in an orderly fashion, but not interpreted. It  may be first hand accounts or direct evidence of an event or item. Original  research often requires primary sources. For example:
•  A music scholar may return to original manuscripts to clarify exactly  what the composer wrote
•  A medical researcher may wish to access data about a drugs trial to  ascertain the effects of that drug
•  A researcher investigating an event may wish to read diaries and letters  of those involved
2  A secondary source is one that interprets or analyses an event or phenomnon. It often attempts to describe or explain primary sources. A secondary  source such as a textbook may include some primary sources as examples.
 Examples of the uses of secondary sources might be:
•  The music scholar will obtain articles and commentaries on the work in  question to gauge the opinions of other scholars
•  The medical researcher reads journal articles on the disease in question to  find the experiences of others working in the field
•  The historical researcher will access texts of other scholars' interpret- ation of the event

For some types of research it is imperative to access the primary data. These data provide the building blocks upon which all analysis and interpretation is created. The researcher may know that they need to access primary sources before they set out looking for information, even if they are not sure exactly hat the item is that they require. If secondary sources are required, they will
need to consider the types of resources appropriate for the project.