Question

Describe the differences between primary, secondary and tertiary sources of evidence. State which of the three sources are preferred for supporting nursing research and why.

Answer 1

Ans) Primary sources are created as close to the original event or phenomenon as it is possible to be. For example, a photograph or video of an event is a primary source. Data from an experiment is a primary source.
- Secondary sources are one step removed from that. Secondary sources are based on or about the primary sources. For example, articles and books in which authors interpret data from another research team's experiment or archival footage of an event are usually considered secondary sources.
- Tertiary sources are one further step removed from that. Tertiary sources summarize or synthesize the research in secondary sources. For example, textbooks and reference books are tertiary sources.

- A primary source provides direct or firsthand evidence about an event, object, person, or work of art, so that's why it is used for nursing research.

- Primary sources include historical and legal documents, eyewitness accounts, results of experiments, statistical data, pieces of creative writing, audio and video recordings, speeches, and art objects.