Primary source
A first-hand record of an event or a dataset, created close to the time by someone who took part in it or measured it.
What it means
A primary source is a first-hand record. Examples include a filing a company submitted, a trial record, a government dataset, a letter or a diary. The creator took part in what happened or measured it directly. Library guides from several universities define the term this way.
Primary sources matter most when a number or quote will be published or used in a decision. A figure traced back to its origin is easier to verify than one repeated across five articles. The label can depend on the question. An editorial can be a primary source about public opinion at the time, and a secondary source about the event it discusses. When you cite a primary source, name the document, its date and the page or table where the figure appears.
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