Skip to Main Content College of the Rockies
← BACK TO LEARNING COMMONS PAGE
Learning Commons
CONTACT

Find Primary, Secondary, & Tertiary Sources

Use this guide to determine what type of source to use in your research and coursework.

Comparison

 

SUBJECT PRIMARY SECONDARY TERTIARY
Art & Architecture Painting by Manet Article critiquing art piece ARTstor Database
Chemistry/Life Sciences Einstein's Diary Monograph on Einstein's life Dictionary on Theory of Relativity
Engineering/Physical Sciences Patent NTIS database Manual on using invention
Humanities Letters by Martin Luther King Website on King's writings Encyclopedia on Civil Rights Movement
Social Sciences Notes taken by clinical psychologist Magazine article about the psychological condition Textbook on clinical psychology
Performing Arts Movie filmed in 1942 Biography of the director Guide to the movie

From "Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources - Comparisons across the disciplines", University Libraries, University of Maryland.