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PRIMARY |
SECONDARY |
TERTIARY |
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Definition |
Articles in which authors report on their original research or observations It often includes hypotheses, methodology, experiments, analysis of data collected in the field or laboratory and a conclusion. |
Discuss the original research of others. Secondary sources use primary information to draw conclusions on or present current state of knowledge in a discipline or subject. |
Index, abstract, organize, compile, or digest other sources. Tertiary sources are usually not credited to a particular author. |
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Examples |
Pilot/prospective studies Cohort studies Survey research Case studies Clinical trials /randomized clinical trials/RCTs |
Literature Reviews Textbooks Practice guidelines & standards Clinical care notes Patient education Information Government & legal Information Systematic review articles |
Dictionaries/encyclopedias (may also be secondary), Almanacs Fact books |