In the Sciences, primary sources are equal to original primary research.
Primary Sources in the Sciences:
Original research, ideas, or scientific discoveries for the first time
Report results/findings/data from experiments or research studies
Frequently include methods, results, and discussion sections
May also be referred to as primary articles, research articles, clinical trials, control trials, or studies
Are frequently found in peer-reviewed or scholarly journals
Should explain the research methodology used (randomized controlled trial, etc.)
Are factual, not interpretive
Common Structure:
Title: briefly states what the article is about
Abstract: summarizes the whole article
Introduction: establishes the context for the research: the area in which the research takes place, the research problem, the importance of the research, and the guiding question or hypothesis
Methods/Methods & Materials/Methods & Design: describes the research procedure
Results: reports the outcomes of the research procedure
Discussion: interprets the results, explaining them and comparing them to the results of other experiments
Conclusion: focuses the reader on what is important about the research, its contribution to the larger area of study (can be a part of the discussion)
References: lists the sources used in the article
Example
This is a research article based on the following criteria:
Methods/design
Trial registration
Words such as randomized controlled trial, study protocol
Phrases such as "trial will test", "clinical trial", "outcome measure", and "total # of subjects"
