There are two types of source information:

• primary
• secondary

It is important to understand the type of source information, as this will influence its credibility.

Primary source

A primary source is a source that is closest to the original event, research or experience.

Examples of primary sources are:

• an original letter
• an original diary extract
• notes from an original experiment or piece of research
• a novel
• a poem
• a play

Secondary source

A secondary source is one step away from the primary (original) event, research or experience.

Examples of secondary sources are:

• a scientific report based on notes from an original experiment
• a critique based on an original novel, play or poem