Primary, Secondary and Tertiary scientific literature?

Question

Explain the distinction between the primary, secondary, and tertiary scientific literature.

Answer 1

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary scientific literature?

Explain the distinction between the primary, secondary, and tertiary scientific literature.

Think of these similarly to sources. Primary literature in the sciences is the direct result of experiments/observations that has been documented and published. (think primary source, direct from the "horse's mouth," so to speak). It could be a peer reviewed article of a study done on a drug trial or experimental observation.

Secondary literature would be similar to a secondary source. It takes primary literature and, perhaps, condenses it, summarizes it. It may reference it in relation to a broader picture. This could be literature or a book.

Tertiary literature would be like a textbook that takes summaries or condensed versions of primary and/or secondary literature for a general view of a subject.