WCSU Libraries

What is a primary source?

A primary source is a document or record which reports a study, experiment, event or other phenomenon firsthand. When a a nurse researcher interviews patients about their health behaviors, a pharmaceutical company conducts clinical trials on a new drug, or a health care facility surveys its nursing staff, they are creating primary information.

Primary sources are usually written by the person(s) who did the research, conducted the study, ran the experiment, or witnessed the event. Primary sources are detailed first reports of the results of this original research.

Foreground clinical questions ideally should be developed using the format, and require the use of primary sources (usually journal articles) as research-based evidence.  Note that it is also appropriate to consult systematic reviews of the research literature to answer foreground questions.

Look for the following elements when deciding whether a journal article is a primary source reporting the results of original research:

• literature review or synthesis of the theory and other research relevant to the topic being studied.
• a description of the population or sample in the study;
• an outline of methodology;
• a report of statistics generated from the study;
• a report of results and a discussion of their significance.

What Types of Articles/Studies Can Answer Foreground Questions?

• pilot/prospective studies
• cohort studies
• term projects
• survey research
• case studies
• qualitative studies
• experimental research (randomized clinical trials/RCTs)
• double blind method
• systematic reviews of the above