When searching for biomedical literature, you will find two types of articles: primary and secondary. Primary sources include articles that describe original research. Secondary sources analyze and interpret primary research.
Primary Literature
| Characteristics | Examples |
|---|---|
| Original source of research or new discoveries. | Original research article published in a peer reviewed journal |
| Results of scientific activities and raw data | Dissertations |
| Methods section for other scientists to replicate study | Technical reports |
Secondary Literature
| Characteristics | Examples |
|---|---|
| Summarizes and synthesizes primary literature | Literature review or review articles |
| Might be broader or less current than primary literature | Books |
| Do not provide new data or research | Chapters |