Question

How secondary sources should be used in an analytical research report, compared to primary sources.

Answer 1

Answer:

Secondary sources help us have a big picture of a topic and understand how other researchers have approached it. They often interpret and analyze many primary sources that can be difficult and time-consuming to synthesize by ourselves. They allow us to:  

• Gain an overview of the topic  

• Support or contrast our arguments with other researchers’ ideas  

• Gather information from primary sources that are not directly accessible

Therefore, it can be helpful to consult secondary sources when you write a report. If you want to mention an article or study cited in a secondary source, search for the original source and cite it directly.  

References:

1. https://guides.library.harvard.edu/HistSciInfo/secondary

2. https://www.scribbr.com/citing-sources/primary-and-secondary-sources/