Secondary Sources

What historians write…

Definitions Secondary sources are accounts of

the past created by people who did not experience the event/time.

Secondary sources describe, interpret or analyze an historical event or phenomenon.

Secondary source is based on an analysis of primary sources.

What Jane Merritt writes…

BA – Vassar 1981MA – UW 1990PhD – UW 1995

Associate professor of History at Old Dominion Universityin Virginia

What historians write

Dissertations Chapters in books (often times

based on a paper given at a conference)

Books Articles in scholarly, academic

journals Book reviews

Scholarly writings

Identifiable characteristics: Specialized topic

Written by academics for an academic audience

Author’s name, credentials and affiliation listed

Usually includes a literature review

Extensively footnoted

Generally not many graphics

Scholarly/Academic Journals Additional identifiable characteristics:

A periodical with a limited number of issues per year than magazines

Many sponsored by an academic organization

Little advertising other than for books Generally lengthy articles 15-30 pages Generally not available for sale at a

newstand – subscription only Many have names that include the words:

• journal, quarterly, review, bulletin

Peer Review / Refereed

Definition: Blind-reviewed by experts who judge if

the article or book provides an original contribution to the scholarship and merits publication

Examples: American Historical Review Journal of Popular Culture William & Mary Quarterly

Publication Cycle

Time Cycle

Knowledge Cycle

Develop & Discuss Ideas

Report Research

Publish Research

PopularizeResearch

Generalize &Formalize

Time Cycle

Knowledge Cycle

Develop & Discuss Ideas

Report Research

Publish Research

PopularizeResearch

Generalize &Formalize

Publications Cycle

Email, listservs,letters

Dissertations, conference papers

Scholarly books and journal articles

Magazine articles, popular history books

Encyclopedias, text books

Time Cycle

Knowledge Cycle

Develop & Discuss Ideas

Report Research

Publish Research

PopularizeResearch

Generalize &Formalize

Publications Cycle

Email, listservs,letters

Dissertations, conference papers

Scholarly books and journal articles

Magazine articles, popular history books

Encyclopedias, text books

Access Cycle

Google?

Dissertation Abstracts

UW Libraries Catalog, indexes: AHL, HA

Indexes: Expanded Academic Index, Research Library; UW Libraries Catalog

UW Libraries Catalog, guides to history research

Evaluating Secondary Sources

Judging a book by it’s cover…

Internal considerations What is the author’s thesis? Does the author situate his/her work in the large

field of scholarship on this topic? What evidence does the author use?

Types of sources Appropriateness of sources to thesis/topic Are the sources appropriately cited

Does the author make his/her case? Is the article/book written well?

External considerations

Who is the author? What else have they written? Are they an expert in their topic? Check databases to see what else

they’ve written Search the web to find out where

they’re working

External considerations

Who is the publisher? Is it reputable? Check the publisher’s website:

• University press?• What other books does it publish?

For journals – is it peer-reviewed:• Publisher website• Directories:

• Serials Directory• Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory

External considerations

How do others view the book/article? Book reviews

• Expanded Academic Index• America History & Life• JSTOR

Is the book/article being used by other scholars?• Arts & Humanities Citation Index (part of

the Web of Science database)

Citations

Documenting research

Importance of citations

Maintains the integrity of the work: By acknowledging other’s contributions By enabling the reader to retrace the

research Conversation with the reader

Citation styles

Vary by discipline: History - Chicago/Turabian Psychology – APA Literature – MLA