Sources
When performing historical research, it is important that a variety of resources are used to ensure depth of information, clarity, and validity of information. Not only should ones research cover a range of authors, but should also draw from both primary and secondary resources in different formats, including, but not limited to:
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It is important that when undertaking research one understands the difference between primary sources, and the advantages and disadvantages of using each.
Primary Sources: A primary source is an artefact or piece of historical evidence that was used or created during the time period being studied. In terms of images or writing, a primary source is based off of a first-hand account. For example, the below image was drawn by an artist who was recalling his first hand account of something he/she had observed in Chinese life, and as such is a primary source on everyday life in Ancient China.
Primary sources are usually used to form a historical hypothesis based on a collection of evidence, this hypothesis is then regarded as a secondary source. Different primary sources can be collated together to form a larger picture of a historical era, including how leisure time was spent, customs, clothes worn, food and drink, and social interactions.
Primary sources are extremely important in historical analysis, as they provide information that free of historical misinterpretation, and without them there would be no secondary sources. It is important to note that, as with any historical resource, primary sources can be prone to historical bias. Often artefacts, particularly images and writings that illustrate major events can be influenced by the creators own personal influence, particularly as they are often created at a time of great emotion, and can lack objectivity and hindsight. It is for this reason that when analysing primary sources, one should utilise a wide variety from different authors, artists, individuals, etc. |
Secondary Sources: A secondary source is usually some form of text created after a historical event or period being researched. Texts can include, but are not limited to:
It is important to note that just because a source is old, it does not immediately make it a primary source, and it depends on the period one is studying. For example, The Records of The Grand Historian, a Chinese text produced by Sima Qian sometime during the Han Dynasty, is a secondary source for much of Ancient China's history, including the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties. While at the same time Sima Qian's writings are a primary source when studying state events and ceremonies of the Han Dynasty, or script writing and historical records of Ancient China. While secondary sources are important in historical research, as they have often already provided an in depth analysis of primary and secondary resources, they do not come without their own disadvantages. Creating a secondary resource involves researchers being to be able to interpret a variety of primary sources, comparing and contrasting findings, in order to reach a conclusion. In this manner primary sources do not provide direct information, but require personal interpretation which can sometimes be a long and laborious process. While conclusions made based on primary sources are based on thorough research and a large collection of evidence, they can sometimes be found incorrect, or are constructed largely through educated guesswork. It is therefore up to anyone using secondary sources to support an argument or discussion, to use a number of different resources in order to create a well informed opinion that is less likely to be based on misinterpretations. It is also a common pitfall of historians to approach a historical era with a preconceived notion of expectations and point of view. This again can lead to its own form of prejudice and bias, where a conclusion has already been formed by an author before commencing research. |