Library Guides: NUR 39000: Nursing Research: Primary & Secondary Sources

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Primary Source Examples

A primary source is a description of a research study written by the original investigator(s). You can identify a primary source by determining whether the author(s) of the article investigated (conducted) the research described in the article. Primary research studies will often (though not always) contain section headings to identify the component parts, such as Objectives, Method, Results, Conclusions, Discussion.

Cooke, M., Moyle, W., Shum, D., Harrison, S., & Murfield, J. (2010). A randomized controlled trial exploring the effect of music on quality of life and depression in older people with dementia. Journal of Health Psychology, 15(5), 765-776. doi:10.1177/1359105310368188

Wu, H., & Lin, L. (2013). The moderating effect of nutritional status on depressive symptoms in veteran elders with dementia: a spaced retrieval combined with Montessori-based activities. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(10), 2229-2241. doi:10.1111/jan.12097

Boström, A., Squires, J. E., Mitchell, A., Sales, A. E., & Estabrooks, C. A. (2012). Workplace aggression experienced by frontline staff in dementia care. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21(9/10), 1453-1465. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03924.x

Secondary Source Examples

A secondary source is a summary or description of a research study written by someone other than the study investigator(s). You can identify a secondary source by determining whether the author(s) of the article did not investigate (conduct) the research described in the article, and instead, is describing research done by others. This includes systematic reviews, which are valuable research tools, but are not primary studies since they describe the work of other researchers.

Alzheimer's Disease International. (2014). World Alzheimer report 2014. Retrieved from http://www.alz.co.uk/research/WorldAlzheimerReport2014.pdf

Sung, H., & Chang, A. (2005). Use of preferred music to decrease agitated behaviours in older people with dementia: a review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 14(9), 1133-1140. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2005.01218.x

Blondell, S. J., Hammersley-Mather, R., & Lennert Veerman, J. (2014). Does physical activity prevent cognitive decline and dementia?: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 1036-1061. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-510