Sources: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

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Primary sources are those which result from the inspiration of witnessing, or from participating in the situation, event or period under study, or may be an abstract product of it, such as statistics data.  Primary sources may be published or unpublished. They are first-hand accounts best cited when promoting a theory, criticism or claim.  The lines between primary, secondary and tertiary sources may sometimes blur.

Secondary Sources are those which analyze, criticize, and interpret primary sources of the time, event, or situation under study.  They are second-hand accounts that can be used when seeking background information, opinions, and subtopics of that which is under study. The lines between primary, secondary and tertiary sources may sometimes blur.

Tertiary Sources are those which cull and distil many primary and secondary sources together to provide an in-depth and objective description of that which is under study.  While typically the last sources to be published in the information cycle, tertiary sources are often the first sources to be used by researchers in need of a broad introduction into the event, situation or period that is under study. The lines between primary, secondary and tertiary sources may sometimes blur.

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